"We moved to Dubai in the autumn of 2008 and at that time the competition for schools was extremely intense. Schools were demanding extraordinarily large fees for assessments without giving any clear idea if a child had a chance of getting in. The American curriculum here looked nothing like what we were used to in Connecticut and I found navigating the school system in Dubai so difficult that I began to look for alternatives.
"On balance, the boys have enjoyed home-schooling. They do miss the regular routine of school, but the opportunity to pursue things that really interest them and the other kinds of social and recreational activities available to home-schoolers seems to make up for the loss of the school experience. Academically, I have no complaints. They consistently test at, or above, grade level on standardised tests.
"The greatest benefit is flexibility. If there are areas in which a child excels, you can let that child immerse themselves in the subject at an advanced level. My eldest will take Astronomy 101 at Yale through iTunes University this fall. He simply loves the subject, grade level is irrelevant. Similarly, if there is an area where your child is struggling, you can take the time to go very slowly and ensure the material has been mastered. We struggled with the geometry units in our curriculum a bit this year, so we skipped them and are now completing them this summer at a more relaxed pace.
"Admittedly, it's hard to get organised and stay organised and 'do' school in a consistent fashion. Using an online programme can help, but I've found that the curricula available in Dubai is really limited. They tend to focus on worksheets and as the kids get older, these become progressively less interesting, so as a parent you have to work hard to ensure your kids are engaged and doing work that is enjoyable.
"If you're considering home-schooling, my advice would be to relax. First grade is not a one-way ticket to either Harvard or incarceration. In my opinion, the push to brand children as either successes or failures is a huge mistake. Every child learns at a different pace and everyone is different. Schooling should be about helping a child acquire the tools they need to learn anything that interests them, not about making our children into little information dumps."
* As told to Rachel Lewis
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia