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Parents have complained to Sharjah's private education authority after the school their children attend sacked 13 staff members.
Twelve administrative staff and one teacher at Al Kamal American International School in Halwan were given termination letters last Thursday.
July 7 will be their last working day when the school closes for the summer break.
Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) told The National that it is looking into the case and has already contacted the school.
Those who have been sacked are the backbone of the school. Our children love their school because of them
Fadia Al Shaalan,
a parent at the school
Parents said they have approached Bin Kamil Group, owners of the school, and have voiced their concerns.
The staff members affected told The National that they were given the letters without a warning and no proper notice was served to them. Most have been with the school since it opened in 2017 for pupils from KG to grade 12.
“We regret to inform you of our decision to terminate your services in the school as of July 2. The school governor and the owner are changing the management and your last working day will be July 7. [It is] due to a change in the need and working conditions of the school,” read the letter given to the employees.
Parent Fadia Al Shaalan, 45, from Jordan, said: “A change is needed if the current staff failed to perform.
“But those who have been sacked are the backbone of the school. Our children love their school because of them and we are happy with how the school is being run.
“Ask parents randomly about their children’s performance. They would tell you it's excellent, which is a result of the efforts of these people.”
She said she is a part of the group of at least 20 parents who have approached the education authority.
“My children complain about long school holiday breaks and want to go to school every day," she said.
“Have you seen a child waking up happy and excited every morning just because he is going to school? My son does.”
Eman Abbas, 35, from Egypt, said school staff always listened to the parents' and pupils' concerns and addressed them.
Her daughters, in grades 6 and 8, have been with the school since it opened and her two younger daughters, in KG1 and grade 1, joined recently.
“It's been five years and the staff members have always been there to help in every possible way,” she said.
“To sack more than a dozen like this is unjustified. If any didn’t perform, they are entitled to a warning at least.”
Wurood Al Araj, 32, from Jordan has three children at the school in grades 2 and 4.
“I'm very upset. The main reason I kept my children in the school is because of its administration staff,” said Ms Wurood.
Ms Wurood said she was among the parents who were interviewed by representatives from SPEA during the assessment of the school’s performance.
A staff member who received a termination letter said they were expecting the school to celebrate their efforts as they helped it to secure a “good” rating.
“From three schools owned by the group, ours improved to a 'good' from ‘weak’ by authorities nearly three days before we were terminated,” said the woman, without wishing to be named.
“The school has also seen an increase in the number of new pupils.
“We were all surprised and don’t know what’s really driven this decision.”
Dr Hasan Elhais, from law firm Al Rowaad Advocates, said the termination of employees could be legal as they are on limited-term contracts.
According to Article 43, the employee or the employer can terminate a limited employment contract for any legitimate reason but a written notification should be given and notice of at least one month.
“There are some cases in which terminations can be carried out based on proven market changes,” Dr Elhais said.
“However, employees must be given a one-month notice period.”
The National has contacted the school for comment.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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FULL%20RESULTS
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
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Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
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6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
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