The announcement that fees would be cleared for pupils living in the UAE and attending government schools was welcomed by families struggling to pay their school bills.
Parents said the decision was a great relief, as for some who had lost their jobs or dealt with other financial difficulties the tuition fees had proved unmanageable.
The directive to pay off the outstanding debt was issued by President Sheikh Mohamed on Thursday, clearing up to a total of Dh155 million ($42.2 million).
“This was a heavy burden on many parents even though the school fees are minimal, but there were some parents who recently lost their jobs and paying the fees was difficult for them,” said Elham Mohammed, 45, an Arabic teacher at a government school in Abu Dhabi.
School fees at government schools are Dh6,000 a year, and there is a criteria that needs to be met by non-Emiratis.
'Best in the country'
Ms Mohammed has three children and teaches at Fatima bint Mubarak School for Girls. Her children attend private school.
“Every year I try to get my own children into a government school, but their grades are not high enough,” said Ms Mohammed, from Egypt. “Government schools are among the best in the country. It is exactly what any parent would want for their kids.”
The UAE provides free education at its government schools to Emirati children, pupils who hold a UAE passport, children of GCC citizens and children of people who are holders of decrees issued by Sheikh Mohamed.
Pupils who do not meet the above criteria must pay fees, be among the top academic performers and cannot make up more than 20 per cent of intake at a government school.
Government school lessons are conducted in Arabic, with English taught as a second language.
Pleas from parents
Every year, a pool of parents request school fee exemptions, said Ms Mohammed.
Many of the expat pupils are from countries such as Egypt, Syria and Palestine, she said.
“They are also some of the highest-performing pupils in the country.”
'We'll give back in some way'
Egyptian father-of-three, Samy Elsayed, who lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic, was among the UAE residents to benefit from the fee waiver.
He was also preparing for a degree in health management when he received the bad news two years ago.
Although he found another job he had to suspend his studies. He was unable to pay school fees of his two daughters who attended Fatima bint Mubarak and Hamdan bin Mubarak government schools.
"This was a huge load on many parents that has been removed," Mr Elsayed said.
"It isn’t unusual for this country’s leadership to do such generous things for both nationals and non-nationals,” he said.
“Acts like this are a relief for so many people who found themselves in a situation like mine, and we only hope we can give back in some way.”
Both his daughters were toppers in their respective years.
Mr Elsayed's wife Hind Shahin says paying school fees is among major headaches for parents amid rising household expenses.
"Paying for a child's education keeps many parents up at night. This is a major thing we now don’t have to worry about any more,” said Ms Shahin.
“Relief comes in unexpected ways. It's a testament to the leadership's commitment to the well-being of both nationals and expats.”
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
FIXTURES
UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
heading
Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.
A number of nations, including Iran's major rival Saudi Arabia, last week cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding terrorism, charges it denies.
The land border with Saudi Arabia, through which 40% of Qatar's food comes, has been closed.
Meanwhile, mediators Kuwait said that Qatar was ready to listen to the "qualms" of its neighbours.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
More on animal trafficking
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WonderTree%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20April%202016%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Waqas%20and%20Muhammad%20Usman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karachi%2C%20Pakistan%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%2C%20and%20Delaware%2C%20US%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Special%20education%2C%20education%20technology%2C%20assistive%20technology%2C%20augmented%20reality%3Cbr%3EN%3Cstrong%3Eumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowth%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Grants%20from%20the%20Lego%20Foundation%2C%20UAE's%20Anjal%20Z%2C%20Unicef%2C%20Pakistan's%20Ignite%20National%20Technology%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
