School supplies are getting expensive
School fees are often raised every year (“UAE parents lament cost of school uniforms”, Gulf News, September 9). If you have two children, like I do, it gets very expensive. The transport fee for two children, from Al Garhoud to the Rashidiya area of Dubai, is Dh1,040 a month. I also feel that the quality of uniforms used to be good, but has gone down in the past couple of years. The colour runs every time you wash the clothes. It also tears because of the low quality of the material. Additionally, many schools are introducing tablets in classrooms, saying that they are there to reduce the weight of text books. But, why then, are parents not told of this during orientation day, and are compelled to buy textbooks? We cannot buy books from outside either, as the rules state that they have to be from the school. We definitely could buy such books for a cheaper price from India, since these books are usually imported from there, but we aren’t allowed to.
From Ms Jane Carneiro
UAE
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Learning on the back bench
School fees are not what they used to be. While there is pressure to move with the times and incorporate the best and latest gadgets into the educational system, making parents pay exorbitant amounts is not fair. Education has become a luxury, when it should be a basic right for every child. Not only are school fees hiked every other year, there are additional costs like uniforms, books, transportation and extracurricular activities that parents need to think about. Schools should try and minimise the cost by allowing parents to buy books from outside the premises, if they see fit, and help them manage finances by providing alternatives. With increasing prices and expenses, I think, indirectly, we are responsible for creating a gap between those who earn more and those who earn less. Children should not have to feel like they can’t afford a gadget that their friend in the same class probably has. Education is all about learning. Don’t make it out to be something else.
From Ms Ria Rathore
Dubai
Style change
Yes, school uniforms are very expensive. But it’s not only the uniforms, supplies like textbooks and notebooks are pricey, too. Schools also keep changing the uniform styles every year so that we cannot use ones that were previously worn.
From Ms Zenaida K. Butocan
Dubai
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Look at the positives
Although the costs are very high, each one of us has the privilege of sending our children to a decent school. In many other countries, children study under trees and do not receive proper education. I agree that I have to pay a lot, but at least my child can get an education.
From Ms Chantal Roux
Abu Dhabi
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Help stop them
According to a report, the head of the family was facing several financial hardships (“Sisters who survived family suicide in recovery”, Gulf News, September 7). Statistics show that a person takes such extreme steps when he/she does not have the money to run a house, pay school fees, or has other personal problems. These are people from families who might live beyond their means, and can’t handle social and family reactions if they admit that they are in debt. A mechanism is needed to curb the incidents of suicide, by desperate families who fear legal reprisal and other consequences. Authorities and charitable institutions are requested to help curb suicides by taking measures like creating public awareness and extending financial help.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
UAE
A difficult position
The world should know the difficult position Aung San Suu Kyi is in (“Rohingya militants declare one-month ceasefire: Twitter statement”, Gulf News, September 10). She did show sympathy for everyone in her country. That is why she was blamed by people from Rakhine. I hope people observe more deeply and stand for the truth. Enough is enough. We weren’t and are not fighting against the Muslims, but are fighting against terrorists. We have the right to protect our country from terrorists and any other enemies.
From Ms Lei Wunn
Burma, Myanmar
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Unjustified violence
I am awestruck by some of the comments saying that the Rohingya massacre is necessary. Is slashing, killing and burning people the way to ‘clean out’ a place? Does anyone consider them to be human? I simply cannot imagine my child or any child, regardless of religion, going through such pain. How can you categorise little children as terrorists?
From Ms Asiya Haris
Dubai
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A good idea?
Though the Indian government claims that the ban on unruly plane passengers is unique and the first of its kind in the world, I am not sure whether it will be implemented, especially in cases against top officials in the nation. I have a feeling this is going to be an additional tool to harass the general public, who already have to put up with the tantrums of some airline staff.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
UAE
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