Kids made to wait in classroom for 4 hours over unpaid fees

Students of a private school in Capital were denied classes on the first day of school reopening for not paying their tuition fees, parents have alleged, according to a report.
The parents in a complaint, alleged the decision of the school management had left a negative impact on their children's psychological well being. Besides, they were obliged to take permission from their workplaces to pay the school fees, so that the children could attend the classes.
"The school management should have welcomed the students on Day 1 instead of detaining them in a classroom," said a parent of a girl student.
Taking up the issue, the Arabic daily Al Emarat Al Yom, which has reported the incident, also lodged a complaint with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) on Wednesday.
While parents, who requested their names be withheld, said the children were ordered to wait in a classroom for four hours for not paying the tuition fees.
A parent said that he was compelled to leave his job and go to school to pay the installment and he had never defaulted on school fees.
He  added that he had paid fees for transportation, school uniform and books, and that he was intending to pay the first installment of tuition fees the first week of the school reopening itself.
Another woman guardian said she received an SMS from the school before the beginning of the academic year stating that students who have not paid the study fees will not be allowed to enter the school.
She said the school management had failed to perform its educational responsibilities by denying access for their children to attend classes.
However, the school's principal who was contacted over the phone, said the management had earlier notified the parents of the due dates of the payment, and it give due consideration regarding financial circumstances of some students.
"Some of the parents, who have not paid the arrears since last academic year, were informed beforehand that the seats are limited, and they should pay the due school fees, so that the children can continue attending classes," he added.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi