Anger grows over outsourcing of Dubai school group's bus services

Dubai: The decision by an education conglomerate to outsource its school bus services has angered parents, who are worried about child security and increased expenses.

Gulf News on Thursday reported nine out of 17 schools operated in Dubai by Global Management Systems (GEMS) will outsource transport services to an external provider from June 1 to cut costs.

Irked by the decision, almost all parents said that it has come at a bad time when they are trying to cope with the increased fee structure and rents.

Almost all of them raised concerns about the safety of pupils when the buses are operated by an external provider. Parents also felt that GEMS is reacting to the decision taken by the education regulatory authority not to allow schools to raise their fees more than 16 per cent.

M.K., whose two children study at Our Own Indian School in Dubai, said he is barely able to cope with the fees and will have no choice but to use his credit card to meet the transportation cost.

"What do you expect? The only option left for me is to send my kids to India and I do not want to do that. I want them to grow up with their parents around. We stay in Sharjah and the school is located in Al Warqa'a. I was unable to sleep thinking about the new transportation fees."

Another parent, whose children also go to the same school as M.K's, fears the new fees will be almost double what he now pays for his two children.

"If you have two kids you will be paying four times the fees. The day the school issued the circular I received telephone calls from other parents wanting to know how to cope with this new scenario."

On whether he will opt to send his children on buses run by an external provider, he said: "I work night shifts and it is going to be impossible for me to take my children to school every morning. I am left with no choice and will be forced to use the new transport service."

G.R. whose daughter goes to Our Own English High School said: "I called the school administration and asked where, according to them, I will get the money for the new fees and why are they making it impossible for parents to survive?"

The minimum increase in bus costs is indicated to be about 300 per cent. As a parent, I feel that if I am being held to ransom by this sudden decision. To whom do we appeal to put a stop to these unfair increases?"
Subramanian Sankaran
Dubai

We are left with two options; to either withdraw our children from these schools or fight against the new rule. Does anyone have a better solution to the problem? "
Rekha Pramod
Dubai

This move has come in the middle of the academic year, and parents have no choice but to pay the charge. One wonders whether the authorities will be able to counter this inconsiderate new rule."
Sanj P.
Dubai

The only option left for me is to send my kids to India and I do not want to do that ... I was unable to sleep thinking about the new transportation fees."
M.K.
Parent

How will this affect a family's annual budget? Do you think this would compromise the safety of students? Tell us letter2editor@gulfnews.com

Schools should not be allowed to operate like profit-making organisations. The government should intervene and provide help and subsidies. It could also run a school bus service and operate buses to all destinations.
Shabir
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 24, 2008, 08:24

We are all worried about the increase in fares but what will happen to the bus drivers and conductors? Will they still have jobs when transportation is outsourced? No doubt any increase is a burden on parents but we still have our jobs!
Aisyah
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 24, 2008, 08:14

Schools have to think about the safety of the children. I think they are just thinking about their income. But if they are providing transport with maximum safety at a reasonable price then this idea could be acceptable.
Rao
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 24, 2008, 08:08

In light of recent incidents regarding safety and security of students, the authorities should better regulate schools so that they run bus services at affordable prices.
V.R.K.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 24, 2008, 07:51

Why have they taken this decision without telling parents first? Why did they not wait until the next academic year? Next they'll start outsourcing teachers. When will this end?
TP
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 24, 2008, 07:46

UAE is not the place to live. It has lost its charm as a result of the exorbitant cost of living and annoying traffic jams. Add to this the increase in school fees and now the transportation charges. Time to say goodbye and move on in life.
Vinod
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 24, 2008, 06:45

I truly do not see what the problem is. Many schools outsource their bus services to other companies. The children make it home safely. It's not like these schools are saying that there will be no bus service provided. They are just saying another company will handle it.
Arianna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 24, 2008, 06:24

In the US we have good public schools with a free school bus service. Dubai should have municipal taxes that everybody pays to cover public schools and buses. If everybody pays into the tax system, it works, just like in the US and Europe.
Georgiana
Corvallis,USA
Posted: April 24, 2008, 05:38