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Ministry's release of weak school list untimely, shocking: Parents

Sharjah - The ministry stated that all 47 schools on the list are banned from enrolling Emirati students for the upcoming academic year.

Parents in the UAE were left shocked on Monday when the Ministry of Education (MoE) released a list of poor performing schools in the country. Many have cried foul at the poor timing of the release and they are questioning on what basis schools have been deemed weak or very weak.
The ministry stated that all 47 schools on the list are banned from enrolling Emirati students for the upcoming academic year. But the news has left expatriate parents concerned about the quality of education they are receiving.
"The list was one shock; the enrollment ban on only Emirati students was another. What is the difference between my child and another? If they deem a school unfit for one, why not deem it unfit for all?", long-term expatriate Hina Majid told Khaleej Times.
Her only son was due to start at the Al Amana Private School Sharjah in September, but after seeing its name appear on the list, she is now having second thoughts.
"I just want to know on what basis the school is on the list? I'm concerned about the quality of education. Now, I am thinking to change his school if it's not up to mark. The school is trying its best to settle us but I want to see a full breakdown of the report. You cannot release a list like that without more details."
With less than two months until the start of the academic year, she said the release was ill-timed.
"I'm now confused. We have registered with Al Amana Private School. My son passed the entry test and we are due to pay for the entire year's tuition fees in August. What are we to do now, but wait!"
For Emirati father of three Mohammed Amran, he has been trying to contact his children's school since yesterday, to no avail.
"I was shocked when I saw the list. My children have been at their current school for three years but now I don't know if they will be accepted in September. I can't even contact the school to discuss the issue because the summer vacation has started."
With no option but to sit and wait for more details to come from the ministry, Amran said not knowing whether his children have a school placement for the upcoming academic year is a nightmare as a parent. "I pay Dh75,000 for all my three kids. Until now, I have not looked at another school as I am hoping to find a resolve and keep them in the school they are at. It's a good school in my opinion."
Like Majid, Asif Mukkadam, father-of-one, wants more details on why these schools have been deemed as 'underperforming'. With his daughter moving into Grade 2 at The Bloomington Academy Private School, he said he was surprised to see it on the list.
Paying Dh14,000 a year in tuition fees, Mukkadam has been seeing some positive changes at his daughter's campus.
"Months before this list was released, the school management called us in and discussed how the school was going to expand its extracurricular givings. As a parent,I'm happy with what I'm getting."
Following Monday's list reveal, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, announced a directive to set up an independent education board for the emirate; something that has been in the works for more than five months. The move aims to improve the education quality across poor performing schools in the emirate, though specific details about the board have not yet been announced.
Mother-of-six Jawahir Safar said: "The introduction of a dedicated board will see big changes in the education sector in Sharjah. The schools will know they are being closely monitored and it will create healthy competition among schools."
The fact that there is concern from a government perspective means changes need to be made, she said, and with His Highness giving priority to better schooling, it's good news to parents.

kelly@khaleejtimes.com