DUBAI — Parents of students of Winchester School in Dubai owe the management more than Dh1.4 million as they are yet to pay up fees since the school began its academic year in September last.
Nearly 125 parents are yet to pay up despite being sent three notices by the school in the past eight months.
Several Asian and international schools also say they are forced to write off fees up to Dh100,000 every year because of various reasons.
Raminder Vig, Principal of Winchester School, told Khaleej Times, “As of March, our records state that parents owe us more than Dh1.4 million and we have sent out at least three letters asking them to pay the pending fees.”
After the school sent out notices, pupils were asked not to come to school for a period of three days, after which they, however, returned. “At least 40 of them stayed home for three days and some did pay up after that. The figure may have probably dipped to less than Dh800,000 now,” he added.
Every month, the school loses up to Dh40,000 and has to waive the recovery of the amount as the pupils have either left the school or the UAE to go back to their home countries. Last year alone, the school had to write off about Dh400,000 as many dropped out after studying an entire year in the school, observed Vig.
However, even if a parent fails to pay the fees, schools are legally bound to teach the students. “We cannot stop them from coming to schools or attend classes and are legally bound to take the children back. However, the Ministry of Education has said we do not have to issue transfer certificates or report cards after the examinations. It is also within our rights to refuse admission for the child the next year if the parent hasn’t paid up till the end of the year,” said Vig.
The Apple International School, this year, has about 40 children who haven’t paid the fees for the past three months. “There is no question of suspending the students. But, we do keep sending reminders to parents and they ultimately pay,” said Principal Nita Maitra.
She conceded that since students from kindergarten classes didn’t need transfer certificates, there have been instances they didn’t come back and the school had to write off the fees.
Parents of a few students of Indian High School (IHS) also have fee arrears. The school Welfare Committee Fund has been forced to write off Dh50,000 and sometimes even up to Dh100,000 at the end of the year.
“A handful of parents do have arrears every year but do pay ultimately. However we have written off fees after evaluation on a case to case basis. The committee has written off fees only on need-based, genuine cases but it is the moral responsibility of parents to pay back to the school when they can afford it,” said Ashok Kumar, CEO and Principal of IHS, Dubai.
Schools say this is a big loss for the management and hope parents don’t default as the school has to pay teachers’ salaries and take care of other expenses with the fees paid by students.
Heads of Dubai British School and The Greenfield Community School said there have been lapses by parents to pay on time. However, it was only a few days’ delay and they have never had to write off any amount.
By Preeti Kannan (Our staff reporter)