Expats in UAE must have their children educated or face residency cut

The FNC's education committee is reviewing a bill on compulsory education for all children between the age of 6 and 18.

ABU DHABI // Expatriates who fail to keep their children in school until the age of 18 could lose their residency visa under legislation being reviewed by the FNC.

The bill on compulsory education, which has 13 articles, was referred to the council's education committee yesterday.

The bill makes education compulsory for all children from the age of 6 until 18, or until they finish secondary school or their residency visa expires.

The law will apply to non-nationals too, and parents and guardians who do not enrol their children will be subject to fines.

Education institutions will be required to issue a warning to parents whose children fail to attend class.

If the warning is ignored for more than 10 days, they will be fined between Dh10,000 and Dh50,000.

If they fail to comply within another five days, the institution has to refer the issue to judicial authorities.

Exemptions will be made for children with medical conditions that prevent them from attending, if they provide a relevant medical report. Those unable to attend due to "social reasons" will also be exempted on providing proof either from the Ministry of Social Affairs or another social institute.

Hamad Al Rahoumi, a Dubai member who was elected into the committee yesterday, said members had not yet discussed the bill.