Locality matters for school admissions

Dubai: Anita and her husband Satchidanand Nair are set to move to Jebel Ali Gardens by April next year. But the family is anxious about their shift to the new location because their three year old daughter Surya's admission in the neighbourhood Indian school is hanging in the balance.

"We have submitted the admission forms, but do not know whether she will get through. I have not applied to any school because the school is our only choice as it is close to where we are going to live," said Anita, who works in the Techno Park. Her office is located close to the Gardens.

Anita said her daughter is currently going to a pre-school in Satwa and that she is sending her to the nursery so that her admission to the KG will be hassle-free in the same school.

"But now that we have decided to move to the Gardens, we are hoping that she will get the admission. Otherwise all our plans will be in jeopardy. If she has to continue in the old school, that means she will have long commuting hours to and from school," added Anita.

She said she is worried about the interview, set for the second week of January, that will decide whether Surya will be in or not.

"I just pray that she answers well to all the questions as she is trained at the nursery. But I was told by some other parents that the child will be interviewed in the absence of parents. Sometimes, children will not even open their mouths in the presence of strangers," said Anita.

However, she is glad that he daughter's future at the school is not decided by a lottery system, as is practised in some schools. "In that case, there is nothing that you can do but pray hard," said Anita.

She is of the opinion that it will be fair for schools to give preference to students who are living in the same locality in the same way siblings are given priority for admission to the same school.

"That will make a lot of sense as at the end of the day, you have to consider the comfort and convenience of the child," she added.