Where luck decides your child's future

Dubai It is that time of the year when parents pine for luck as their little ones come of age to enter the academic world.

The future of a child hangs on luck in the education grand draws that happen in many Indian schools as the new academic year starts in April.

Securing admission for a child in kindergarten in a school of their choice is a daunting task for parents as the number of applications outstrips the total available seats every year. As the demand surpasses supply, schools devise strategies like lottery draws for an equitable distribution of seats.

For instance, hundreds of parents will be waiting with bated breath to see the outcome of the lottery draw Indian High School in Dubai will be conducting on January 9. At 5pm, in the presence of all the applicants, lots will be taken that will seal the fate of the 240 lucky children who will gain admissions to the school's kindergarten.

But is the future of a child to be decided by a lucky draw? Asok Kumar, CEO of the Indian High School, the most populated CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Examination) school in Dubai, challenges you to come up with a more transparent and fair system.

"I get about 2,000 applications for KG. And over the years, we are witnessing about a 15 per cent increase in the number of applications.

Preference

"I have a total of 22 divisions for KG but have limited seats because preference is given to parents who have children already studying in the school," Kumar said. According to government regulations, each class should not have pupils exceeding 28.

Kumar maintains that the lottery system is "done by parents and for parents", and the school merely provides the logistical arrangement to facilitate the process.

"This year, there are approximately 240 seats, 120 for girls and 120 for boys. Therefore two draws will be held, separately for girls and boys (one followed by the other) and a maximum of 120 coupons will be drawn in each category.

"The lots will be drawn by parents and hence there is no question of the school manipulating the procedure," Kumar said.

He said he is against the system of interviews or merit exam to decide whether a child gets admission because every child should be given an equal opportunity to learn.

Towing the same line, Radhakrishnan Nair, Principal of Sharjah Indain High School said they also follow the lottery system as it ensures transparency and rules out foul play.

The school has 800 seats in kindergarten but the Nair said they are faced with more than 1,600 applications.

Random selection

Dr Farooq Wasil, Director of Asian Schools at GEMS Education said they follow an online registration system where a computer is used to randomly select the applicants. "It is difficult to make a distinction between young students by conducting a merit exam or interview.

"Every child should be given a fair chance and schools are very ethical about the selection process when it is done online.

"We have a commitment to the existing parents and hence only the remaining seats are open for new students," Wasil said, adding that it is due to space constraints that schools are forced to consider the lottery system.

But Alexander coates-Reid, principal of the Gulf Indian High School in Dubai begs to differ.

"We personally interview all the applications and a committee shortlists the candidates.

"We are very particular to ensure that the parents are committed to their children's education and hence we look into their education background too," he said.

Are you one of the parents whose children are affected by this? What do you think is the solution to this problem? Share your thoughts and experiences with us