From returning Term 3 fees completely to offering reductions and access to vital support funds – we shine a light on a selection of schools and nurseries in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that are providing welcome relief to parents feeling the financial fallout of COVID-19
For those of us who are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the good news is that a number of UAE schools and nurseries are stepping up to offer Term 3 discounts, as well as additional help and support to those who need it. Here, we round-up a selection of the measures that are being put in place…
Home Grown nursery – Term 3 fees returned
“At Home Grown we have thought long and hard about the issue many nurseries are facing, ‘Do we refund Term 3 payments to parents?’. We actually only received 15% of Term 3 fees as most parents decided to hold off paying once the nursery closed in Term 2, and we totally understand why,” says Lucy Bruce, founder of the eco children’s nursery in Umm Suqeim.
“Although the additional funds from parents who had paid would have been a huge relief to us at this time, we decided that it was not fair to parents who had paid to keep their fees while other parents had not. It was our decision to pay all Term 3 fees back and we are in the process of doing this now.
“We hope that our decision will help us in the long term through continuing to develop trusting relationships during these challenging times. Our parents have been extremely grateful for this gesture as many are struggling financially. While the nursery has hit hard times, we do believe that by continuing to do the right thing we will emerge from this stronger and wiser.”
The Arbor School – 20% Term 3 discount plus early bird payment discount
This ecological school in Al Furjan is offering a 20% discount on Term 3 fees to all year groups with an additional 5% discount to all those who were able to pay by Saturday, 11 April.
“We appreciate that this is a challenging time for families, many of whom are having to manage with a reduced or temporarily suspended income; we also acknowledge that electronic learning has some limitations and that students are unable to access our amazing facilities,” said Brett Girven, principal, The Arbor School. “In recognition of this, we have reduced the costs of education in term three and encourage continued financial support from parents, which is essential to us.”
Parents of students who are experiencing particularly hard times are encouraged to contact the school to discuss the support available. “We also know that many other parents might be thinking of a school move during this time, so we want them to know that they are always welcome to join us at Arbor,” said Girven. “Whether existing parents or new, everyone will, of course, receive the same discounts.”
Al Najah Education – 20% Term 3 discount
Al Najah Education has announced a 20% reduction in school fees at its Jumeirah-based schools, Horizon English School and Horizon International School. The relief applies to all Year groups for Term 3 of the 2019/2020 academic year.
“Our success as a company is built on strong foundations of community spirit and a ‘child first’ approach – and in unprecedented times, communities need to pull together,” said Raza Khan, CEO of Al Najah Education. With the discount, we are doing our part to help families through the hard times that lie ahead.
“Our schools will also make changes to the e-learning system to help parents cope with a longer distance learning period. This is a marathon now, not a sprint. We will make sure all the students catch up on lost learning when schools reopen, with extended classes and blended learning.”
The Repton Family of Schools – 15% Term 3 discount plus additional financial support
Comprising Repton Dubai, Foremarke School Dubai and Repton Abu Dhabi, The Repton Family of Schools in the UAE has launched the Dhs8 million Repton Family Support Fund (RFSF), providing financial support to families that are suffering financial hardship as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, parents will receive a 15% fee reduction from Term 3’s fees applied to the 2020-2021 academic year.
The RFSF may be accessed by all families of the Repton Family of Schools, and will be allocated on a needs basis, subject to submitting supporting evidence of job loss, significant salary reduction, unpaid leave for employees, or revenue loss for business owners, with parents receiving regular updates on the percentage of the fund that has been allocated.
Nitin Kripalani, CEO of EKI, which operates the Repton Family of Schools in the UAE, says: “We are aware that many families are facing significant challenges, and we will do everything that we can to support them during this unprecedented time. The RFSF and the 15% discount for Term 3 applied to next year is a reassurance of our commitment to our community – not just in the short term, but also throughout the next academic year and beyond. We are determined to provide support, relief and assistance to our families facing difficult circumstances.”
Dubai Heights Academy – 10% fee discount
Dubai Heights Academy has reduced its fees by 10% for the third academic term of this year. Parents are also being offered the opportunity to spread their payments over three months – April, May and June. The school is asking any parent experiencing payment difficulties to contact them directly as well.
“We realise that this is a very challenging time for many parents, and we are doing our utmost to ease the burden of tuition fees,” said Principal Alison Lamb. “At the same time, the school is also committed to delivering a high-quality education and ensuring community safety and these will remain our top priority.”
Is your school on the list? Keep checking back for updates as we receive them.
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