With such high school fees, I'm surprised to know that schools struggle here (Tough times ahead for UAE schools, education experts warn, February 14). How can they not operate when they are charging, on average, Dh45,000 for a single child.
Simon Buckerfield, Ras Al Khaimah
It is, in fact, parents who struggle, as many of them can’t pay the high fees.
Noha Sherin, Dubai
I had to stop going to school because my parents could not afford the high fees. Public or private, the fees are too high. Yet, schools continue to increase their fees. The Government must do something about it.
I am surprised to know that schools are suffering and not parents.
Christine Joy M Genova, Dubai
Its fun to imagine the editorial The essential role of school teachers (February 15) as a possibility, but demoralising when you realise how poorly schools treat teachers. It's a shame that schools discipline teachers and not students. They call them factories of sadness.
Troy Patrick, US
More fines for spitting needed
Regarding the news article Almost 200 in Abu Dhabi fined in 2016 for spitting on streets (February 14), the law has been in force for a long time, but it used to be a Dh500 fine. So this is nothing new. I wonder why only 200 people were fined in a year. They could probably do that in a day if they were diligent and vigilant. Maybe the number of fines will increase this year, as the Government is looking for ways to increase revenue from everywhere.
Dave Pryce, Abu Dhabi
There is an area behind the Marks & Spencer building on Airport Road. Those five-floors buildings, I believe, are a spitting haven. It’s my dream to see that area clean and tidy.
Sultan Joseph Altamimi, Abu Dhabi
Valentine’s Day ban is illogical
There's surely something not quite right as Pakistani authorities have banned Valentine's Day and yet the daily dramas on its TV channels are awash with unrequited love stories (Pakistan high court bans Valentine's Day, February 15).
Meanwhile, even in its conservative heartlands previous bans have been abandoned “because of the lack of public support”.
Of course in the West, narcissistic “emoting” on Facebook and social media is in full flood, but that surely doesn’t discount that Valentine’s Day may be at root a simple matter of a day for expressing romantic affection to your life partner.
Maybe it should be redirected, rather than banned. Banning it doesn’t seem to be working anyway.
Name withheld by request
Hospitals need to be practical
In reference to the story UAE Helping Hands: Father of triplets faced with huge hospital bill after babies' ICU stay (February 12), hospitals need to get their act together and consider setting up payment plans.
The man mentioned in this story can’t pay from jail. At least with a payment schedule he could pay it off over time and they would slowly get their money.
Name withheld by request
Where in the city are rents falling?
I am a resident of Abu Dhabi and I haven't got any hard evidence that rents have dropped here (Abu Dhabi residential rents to continue to decline in 2017, February 14). Where is this information coming from? I see plenty of evidence that tenants are not renewing contracts and moving to cheaper housing areas, while landlords hang on to the existing rent levels.
Mark Freeman, Abu Dhabi