Dubai school asks parents, students to be vigilant of strangers

Dubai: A Dubai school on Monday asked parents and students to be vigilant as a stranger approached two students and offered them a ride.

The incident occurred at the GEMS Wellington International School in Al Sufouh area in Dubai, which issued a circular notifying parents that two students were approached at the school gates on Thursday afternoon.

The incident was the third of its kind reported by schools in Dubai since October last year.

“Dear Parents, I would like to inform you that two of our students have reported they were approached at the school gates on Thursday afternoon by a man in a white car who informed them that he had permission to take them home. The girls had the presence of mind and good sense to immediately come back into the school,” a circular sent by the principal to parents stated.

In all the three incidents that took place in three different schools, a man in a white car was reported to be approaching the children. However, it is not clear if it is the same car and the man.

A GEMS spokesperson told Gulf News that the incident took place last week.

“Both students were unharmed and dealt with the incident in an exemplary way by returning to the school premises. The family has reported the incident to the authorities, who are dealing with the matter. Our schools always remind parents to be diligent in discussing stranger danger with their children and we will continue to reinforce this through our community,” the spokesperson said.

Dubai Police told Gulf News on Tuesday that they had not received any complaint from the school.

Ruth Burke, the principal, who sent the circular, urged parents to remind their children to be cautious when approached by strangers.

“Please can I request that you remind your children of the continued need to be vigilant and highly aware regarding safety matters. In addition, the need for pupils to exercise extreme caution and care when out and about will be reiterated in assemblies, tutor sessions and in classes this week,” the circular read.

The letter comes on the heels of earlier incidents Gulf News reported in October and November.

On October 25, a white car reportedly pulled up alongside a student of GEMS Jumeirah College in Al Safa, where one man tried to lure the boy to get into the car but when he refused the other man tried to pull him inside. The student managed to get away and is safe.

Less than three weeks later, Dubai English Speaking School reported two similar incidents that occurred on November 8 and 9. The schools said two students who got off the school bus near English College were followed by a white Honda car.

The students ignored the driver and reported the incident to their parents and the school.

Pakistani parent Basma Shafiq said hearing about such incidents makes her more nervous about her children’s safety.

“I think that we parents have a responsibility to educate our children about the dangers of talking to strangers. School authorities and police have the responsibility to investigate the matter to prevent it from happening again,” she said.

Palestinian parent Manal Abu Kuwaik believes police should investigate the matter urgently.

“If there are three similar incidents I think it is time for authorities to take action. It might be a gang targeting students,” she said.