‘Hike fees but don’t shut down school’: Parents

Dubai: Parents of a loss-making school have petitioned the Knowledge and Human Devel-opment Authority (KHDA) to increase school fees by 20 per cent or even more in a last-ditch attempt to save the school from shutting down in September 2014.

On November 18 the school, owned by an Emirati, told parents it was forced to shut down due to insufficient funds. “It has not been profitable for years. I am not aware of the financial loss, but I have been informed that it is no longer sustainable to run the school,” William Johnston, head of primary, The English College, Dubai, told XPRESS.

“The fees were set very low in 2004 when the school started as we wanted to attract students. But in the last nine years, we’ve raised the fees only twice. Only a 20 per cent fee hike could help the school from shutting down. But the KHDA has turned down the request,” he said. Current fees for Year 1 to Year 5 are Dh27,280 and Year 6 is Dh29,093.

An email sent by Johnston to parents on November 19 read: “At the weekend, I was summoned to the head office where I was told that it was the decision of the board of governors to close the primary school. The reasons given are purely business. KHDA who controls fees in all private schools has refused permission to raise our fees. All staff including myself will lose our jobs and you will be left searching for an alternative school for your children. It is with deep regret that I have to say that the last day of this academic year will be June 30, 2014.”

In an unprecedented move, within hours of Johnston’s email, parents unanimously decided to raise the matter with the KHDA. On Wednesday, over 200 parents signed a petition and handed it to the educational regulatory authority.

On Wednesday, pupils were seen making posters and flyers for a campaign to save the school. After classes they walked out carrying SOS (Save our School) banners. “Our children love to study here and want to save the school. Teachers share a special bond with them. It is painful to see all this end,” said a worried parent.