Improve the quality of education
All schools must work towards being rated as outstanding (‘12 Dubai private schools rated ‘outstanding’,’ Gulf News, May 1). No matter what the grade of the school is, the fees keeps increasing but the quality of education is at a standstill. Another issue is that in the UAE some schools give admission to children based on their nationality. All children and parents must have equal rights to all schools. Children from any background should be given equal opportunity in all schools. We all know schools are a major business and make a lot of profit. I have four children. Imagine sending them all to a school that is rated outstanding, it is way too expensive.
From Ms N. D. Mora
UAE
Facebook comment
Expensive education
These ratings just give schools a way to increase their school fee every year. As a parent I only see the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) inspections in schools on a yearly basis. During these inspections schools transform into temples of education for a week, but after that they are back to their usual inane system. To add to that, many schools have made tablets mandatory this year. My child’s school showed great innovation, motivation and vision for use of technology in their circular to parents and asked them to invest in tablets. But as expected, after all parents scrambled to buy them before the stipulated last date, the school is yet to wake up on its circular.
From Ms Dhaarini Srinivasan
UAE
Routine students
Outstanding schools tend to be selective, which is why they are able to get outstanding grades every year. The selection process of these schools only gives opportunities to brilliant students, so the teachers are used to the teaching such students and do not have to put in the extra effort. If the same teachers were to teach students of varying IQs, would the schools still live to their outstanding rating?
From Ms Juliet Coley-Irwin
Dubai
Inspections are an act
I think any inspection that is scheduled where the teachers, administration and cleaners know of the inspection, it wouldn’t hold the same weight. It would be basically evaluating an orchestrated performance. A true inspection should be random and unannounced and several times during the year. What happens is the school is notified and the teachers begin decorating their boards, the corridors get painted and the workbooks get marked in the week before the inspection. Then inspectors come for a week to see the wonderfully practiced play. My daughter moved two schools and during each inspection, I felt how pathetic and how obvious the cheating was. Then as soon as the inspection was over, everything would go back to normal.
From Ms Mariam Diqs
Dubai
Facebook comment
No bias
Good job (‘Scorpions drummer James Kottak jailed in Dubai for cursing Muslims,’ Gulf News, April 30)! I am thankful to Dubai police for not showing any leniency or bias towards a member of a legendary band.
From Ms Sameera
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Known for bad behaviour
Based upon what the judge heard in the court case he handed out what he thought was an appropriate sentence. But it is totally unacceptable for people who weren’t witnesses or who were not in court to hear the case presented to pass judgement in this forum. Yes, rowdy behaviour should be punished and yes defamatory behaviour should be too, whether it is personal or on a religious basis, when it is said in a meaningfully bad way as in the recent racist case of the US basketball team owner. Surely it would have been far better to have had him issue a public apology. Rock stars are well known for their outrageous behaviour.
From Mr David Woodward
Dubai
Zero tolerance
If someone doesn’t like Muslims, don’t come to this part of the world, be it for work or for travel. Stay in your comfort zone at home and be happy. Muslims and our countries can survive without your presence in their life. We won’t tolerate anything against our religion, especially in our own country.
From Ms Olenka Voronova
Abu Dhabi
Longer punishment
I am glad that he was arrested at the airport because some people are simply not worth being allowed in to a Muslim country. He should go back to where he came from and learn to respect the culture and religion of the place he travels to. He deserves much more than just a month.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
An ungrateful musical guest
Why do people think they can act this way? According to the news report, the musician was travelling to Bahrain for a performance, which is interestingly a Muslim country, too. They earn money by performing in such countries and yet they insult them.
From Ms Samina Akhtar
Sharjah
A lesson to learn
The musician should not be treated differently and should get the maximum punishment. These celebrities think too much of themselves. Let this be a lesson to them, to learn how to stay quiet.
From Mr Marwah
Dubai
Website comment
Never ending queues
The situation is bad in the UAE, but not like it is any better in the Philippines either (‘Slots full for Philippine passport application in Dubai,’ Gulf News, April 30). In fact, it is worse. There has been no change, development or advancement in the embassies. There are never-ending queues. If you have an emergency and have to travel, forget it, it’s not easy to get your documentation right.
From Mr Alex
Dubai
Website comment
Time to change
Going to the Philippine consulate or any Philippine agency here in Dubai is one of the worst experiences. For a passport renewal or to get an Overseas Employment Certificate, you will have to wait at least eight hours to finish. Basically spend your whole day there. Now if you really want to finish early, you can start lining up as early as 4am in the morning. I know many people who have tried that, too. Dubai has become a fast paced city in terms of its technologies. Why can’t the Philippine agencies here keep up with the technology, too? The concerned authorities at the consulate need to improve and change the way they process documents.
From Mr J. R.
Dubai
Website comment
Full name withheld by request
Not convenient
I’ve been trying to get an appointment online for almost a month, but there is some bug and the system just doesn’t work, even when I’m simply trying to click on dates available as per the given instructions. I also visited the consulate hoping that I can get an appointment and told them about the online glitch, but I was not accommodated. They have to change the system for convenience of the Filipinos in the UAE.
From Ms Jesy
Dubai
Website comment
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