Sunny Varkey accuses KHDA of being inconsistent

Dubai: Sunny Varkey, Chairman of Varkey Group that owns GEMS group of schools, has accused The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) of being inconsistent.

Varkey's comments came after KHDA issued a final verdict on the issue of Dubai Modern High School's relocation to Nad Al Sheba, banning it from implementing a 45 per cent hike in tuition fee until construction is completed.

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Varkey, who owns the biggest chain of private schools in the UAE, said KHDA is standing on the way of Dubai's vision of world class education.

He was addressing the media from the Dubai Modern High School's new campus in Nad Al Sheba on Saturday.

When contacted, KHDA refused to make any comments.

The school management announced that the school will start functioning from Sunday and is ready to receive students.

if the school cannot meet the standards set by khda , how it can expect to parents to pay for the delayed facilites.This is the state of today's education.
Jaafar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 19:10

KHDA verdict is very much justified.School must respect KHDA decision.
Suhail
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 15:14

The Decision of KHDA is perfectly right, 45% increase of fees is a real burden on parents. Everything in school is doubled. Fees, transportation even the books sold in school is double than the market price.
Wasieeh Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 15:06

What about when KHDA allowed to increased the fee by xx% Mr Varkey? Your management's statement at that time was 'it is in line KHDA'. Now why are you not respecting the same KHDA?
Farhan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 15:05

"Varkey said KHDA is standing on the way of Dubai's vision of world class education." This is just a business statement. A 45% hike at this point of time is not acceptable. Full support to KHDA.
Ruben Mathew
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 14:45

Education is merely a business, it also should have some social commitments. Here Mr. varkey's comments reflects that of a business man
Kareem
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 14:04

I think the decision of KHDA is right. A sudden increase of 45% is not affordable by anybody. The school management has to think about the position of parents also, especially at this hard time.
Mohammad Shafeeque
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 13:47

School must respect KHDA decision rather than blaming for inconsistency. They ultimately played a better role to relieve thousands of parents.
Abdul Rahim Solanki
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 13:38

Varkey, who owns the biggest chain of private schools in the UAE, said KHDA is standing on the way of Dubai's vision of world class education. I am not offending anyone. But sorry to say that this statement is absolutely incorrect. Increasing the school fee is standing in the way to Dubai's vision of world class education. How can a child get quality education if the parents are not in the position to admit the child in a good school demanding high fees? I think that a school is a Non-Profit Organization. But now-a-days it seems to be the opposite. The school only increase fees and not increase the quality of education.
S. S.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 13:29

I condemn Mr. Sunny Varkey's comment, KHDA verdict is very much justified, how can one pay for not being utilised services, though children have to partly bear the disturbance of on going completion works.
Arshad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 13:24

I think the KHDA has made the right decision. A 45% increase in fees is not the way to impart "world class education". The Varkey chairman should start thinking of the welfare of the students and the hundreds of parents who are going through hard times.
Bessy Babu
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 13:12

My daughter is studying in his school. Her fee was 520 in last year. Now it has gone to 850. Mr Sunny, Please explain What cost has gone to this level.
Rafi Shmnad
Dharjah,UAE
Posted: May 03, 2009, 12:42