DUBAI // The parents of a five-year-old boy who say they have spent thousands of dirhams in assessment fees are questioning the value of school entry exams and the emotional impact the tests can have on young children.
R J, a small-business owner from the UK, who lives with his wife F A and son G J in Dubai, said he has spent Dh4,500 in assessment fees alone over the past two years while trying to find a place for his son.
Most recently, he paid Dh1,000 at Kings’ School Al Barsha, where he and his wife were eager to transfer their son at the recommendation of friends.
After meeting staff and going on a tour of the new facilities, the couple was convinced the school was the right choice.
“We got mesmerised and we thought, ‘Yes, this is the school for our son’,” R J said.
After the tour, R J said his son was led into a room with other prospective pupils to be assessed by staff members behind closed doors. About 25 minutes later, the group came out and the administrators said the parents would soon be notified of the results.
“Then two weeks later we got an email saying sorry he does not meet our minimum requirements in the assessment and therefore we cannot offer him a place,” said the father.
“The whole thing doesn’t add up to me – based on a 25-minute assessment you reject a five-year-old little boy? It’s ridiculous.”
The boy’s mother, F A, said the experience was upsetting for the boy.
“When I picked him up from school, I said ‘you were not accepted in Kings’,’ he started crying saying, ‘No, I want to go to Kings’.
“I really was upset because maybe this is the only time he want and he saw his friends there, that’s why it made him feel so sad,” said the mother.
R J said schools should at least be required to provide parents with a written report detailing the assessed pupils’ performance if not refund the fees altogether.
“Tell us what went wrong, we paid for this. We can help our child. What happened in that 25 minutes that made you reject him from the school?” he said.
“Be honest with people. Tell them what you’re going to assess them for. If you’re going to make assessments and I don’t believe we should be paying fees for something we may or may not get. It’s like buying a lottery ticket.”
F A said children should not be assessed at such a young age.
“It’s too early for them. If it was A-levels, OK, then assess, but not five-year-olds.”
Kings’ Education said it would o’t comment on an individual case through the media.
“We are very happy to meet with parents to discuss if they wish,” read a statement from the school issued to The National.
“We believe our admissions and assessments processes are transparent, with our admissions policy posted on our website. As a matter of course, we do not prepare full reports on each child assessed, although we do provide verbal feedback to parents, where requested.
“The registration fee contributes towards the administration costs associated with admissions and assessment and as such is applicable whether the child is offered a place or not, and is in line with KHDA recommendations.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
