Parents Feeling The Re-registration Pinch

We might only be in March, but the UAE’s schools are in the thick of admission process for the coming 2015/16 academic year. And, although we all feel for those parents still seeking the right place for their child, the rest of us, who have our ‘seats’ secured, certainly haven’t finished paying for it...

This month, the UAE's parents can expect next year’s deposit letters tumbling out of lunch boxes and scrunched up fee hike news at the bottom of school bags.

“This has been the practice at our school for the past 3 years now. They ask us in March and then adjust it in the next academic year. The letter comes with a threat that they will offer the place to someone else on the waiting list if not paid before the deadline. Of course this is crazy, I mean, we are all expats and the future is uncertain. I have three kids and the amount gets hefty.” - Rabia

While some schools ask only for completed documentation confirming a child’s readmission for the next academic year, others demand a significant financial deposit.

“My kids' school has sent the re-registration notice about two weeks ago…Dhs 2000 per child! Although I think this is the norm and will be deducted form next year’s fees, there is a problem with the school and we are unsure whether to register. Last year, 17 teachers left, and were replaced. This year, quite a few teachers left mid-term, plus the heads of primary and foundation have left, which leaves us in a dilemma, where can we possibly go at this late hour?” - Andrea.

“The problem is that parents have to pay otherwise they will never find a place for their children in another school as all are fully booked for the upcoming three years. At my son's school they have requested full term fees, they don't accept credit cards and we have to pay in cash and if we delay payment the school haunts us with letters and they embarrass our kids in class!” - Gigi.

However, maybe parents should be at least a little relieved by this process, according to whichschooladvisor.com's Lyn Soppelsa. In the past it was actually even tougher for Dubai's parents. "Since the KHDA removed the right for schools to ask for the full September term's fees in the summer, it's become the trend for schools to request this re-registration fee. So, in some respects, it could actually be considered an improvement."

She went on to say, "All schools request a term’s notice if a parent removes a child from school so that they can aim to fill that place.  Over the summer, they often have families who leave at the last minute, or who may well have known they were leaving but didn't want to commit to giving notice in case the move didn't happen for some reason.

"When schools were full with long waiting lists, it wasn't such an issue, but now with more availability, being left with leavers at the last moment is a logistical and potentially costly issue for them."

In fact, many schools liken the re-registration fee to the deposit that's required when an initial place is offered, a commitment from both parents and the school to the particular school place.

Lyn notes, "What is actually more interesting is that schools that don’t make that fee adjustment until the summer term. So if you leave during the school year for whatever reason... you don’t get the deposit back."