Parents demand "less embarrassing" measures

Private schools withhold exam results from students because of "late expenses"

School administrations show a lot of flexibility in collecting arrears in case the students' families fail.

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Private schools in Abu Dhabi withheld the results and marks of the exams for the first semester, for the current academic year, for a number of students, due to the failure of their families to pay school fees on the dates specified for the installments, while parents confirmed that this procedure causes them and their children great embarrassment in front of their colleagues, especially When asked about their results, they demanded that other alternative procedures be taken to ensure that schools receive their dues, and that are less embarrassing at the same time.

In turn, the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi stressed the importance of schools' commitment to providing a fair and reasonable payment system for school fees, and not imposing financial penalties as a means of punishment, stressing the need for schools to deal with matters related to the consequences of late or non-payment of school fees in a confidential manner in order to protect students from embarrassment. .

In detail, the parents and families of Emirates Today students have been informed that private schools in Abu Dhabi are withholding the results and marks of exams for the first semester of the current academic year (2022-2023) for the British and American curricula, for a number of students in grades (1-12), due to their delay and non-compliance with paying school fees in The dates set for the installments, stressing that this procedure causes them and their students great embarrassment in front of their colleagues, especially when they are asked about their results.

The students’ families, who preferred not to be named, asked the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi and school officials to take the necessary guarantees to pay the dues away from the decision to withhold the results of the exams, because it belittles the parents in front of their children, as well as the students in front of their colleagues. Especially since matters related to announcing the results and study procedures have become widely circulated on parent s' groups using WhatsApp, which constitutes pressure and psychological burden on the family whose economic conditions prevented the payment of expenses at the specified times.

On the other hand, principals and officials in private schools, who preferred not to be named, confirmed that the procedure of withholding student results due to expenses is one of the last options resorted to by the school administration, not with the intention of diminishing the role of its students, but to urge and remind their families to quickly pay overdue dues. .

They told «Emirates Today»: «All schools are absolutely committed to the policy of the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi, which encourages support for parents and dealing with them flexibly with regard to the payment of school fees, and therefore we sent, before the start of the first semester exams, a general notice to students' families of the need to pay dues The finances related to two out of three installments of school fees, especially since some were late in paying the first installment that was due before the start of the school year, and they were also late in paying the due for the second installment this December, which represents a real financial problem for schools that have large obligations and burdens. Such as the salaries of educational and working staff and other requirements.

They stated that the failure to deal seriously with notices of payment of financial arrears by some parents led to the decision to withhold the results of their children's exams for the first semester, until the arrears are settled, noting that the school administrations show a lot of flexibility in collecting the arrears in the event that the students' families fail.

On the other hand, the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi stressed the need for schools to publish clear and transparent policies related to the effects and consequences of non-payment or late payment of school fees, while ensuring that the school provides a fair and reasonable payment system, and not imposing financial penalties as a means of punishment, stressing the need to Schools deal with matters related to late or non-payment of school fees in a confidential manner, in order to protect students from embarrassment.

The department indicated, in the Private Schools Policies and Guidelines, that all procedures and problems related to school fees and dues have been organized in clear and announced clauses for all school administrations.

According to the guide, school administrations may not dismiss a student due to late payment of fees, nor may any student be denied entry to an exam at the end of the year due to non-payment of fees, while the school can resort to suspending the student (temporarily) from studies, after warning his guardian three times, as well. It may withhold the result from the student, as well as refrain from issuing transfer certificates until the settlement of the installments is made.

• "Education and Knowledge" stressed the importance of schools' commitment to providing a reasonable payment system for school expenses.

mandatory fees

The “Private Schools Policies and Guidelines” guide, issued by the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi, stated that the school may not inform parents of the mandatory fees, the timetable for their payment, or proceed to collect them before being approved by the Council, as the tuition and other fees proposed must be included in the application for access. He obtained a license for the school, which is subject to the approval of the Council in accordance with this decision, indicating that the school is prohibited from collecting any fees from parents that exceed the fees approved by the Council, and the Council determines the requirements and conditions for schools that wish to apply for an increase in tuition fees.

The guide stated that the school must apply to the department to obtain prior approval to increase its income from other sources such as grants, financial endowments, bonds (vouchers), and renting buildings, playgrounds, halls, and school facilities. Of the school fees approved and approved by the department, provided that this fee does not exceed (5%) of the value of the approved tuition fees.

He explained that the school has the right to keep the registration fee in the event that the student does not enroll in the school, and the school is prohibited from taking any financial guarantee or financial deposit from parents to register their children, even if it is refundable.

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