ABU DHABI // A school that forced a student to repeat grade 11 has been ordered to pay the boy’s father Dh10,000 in compensation.
The boy transferred from Egypt to a private school in the UAE, and entered grade 12.
But after six months the school said he could not sit the mid-year exams because Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) did not recognise the Egyptian system as equivalent.
The school told the father his son would have to repeat grade 11. He agreed but two years later – after his son retook grade 11 and completed grade 12 – he filed a lawsuit claiming financial and emotional damages from both the school and Adec.
He said he spent Dh30,000 on private lessons before his son was put back, and then a further Dh20,000 on the lessons.
He claimed his son and the boy’s mother required psychological help because they were so traumatised by the setback.
The Civil Court cleared Adec of responsibility but ruled the school had been negligent in failing to say entry for the exams depended on Adec’s approval. It also ruled the school was negligent for a delay in sending the son’s documents to Adec.
The court dismissed claims the boy and his mother had been traumatised. It also ruled there should not be compensation for the private lessons. The court dismissed the school’s complaint that it took two years to file the lawsuit.
hdajani@thenational.ae
