Dubai schools cost more than UK universities

Posted by: Margo wearn Saturday, 9 February 2013 1:23 PM[UAE] - England

I have decided to home school in Dubai because a) i am broke and b) i am (actually) quite intelligent.

Easy solution and the kids can get up at 11 instead of 7.

Posted by: Skm Friday, 1 February 2013 1:45 AM[UAE] - UNITED KINGDOM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7916927/University-tuition-fees-soar-for-foreign-students.html

University tuition fees soar for foreign students
Foreign students are being charged up to eight times more than British undergraduates as universities seek to plug a multi-million pound hole in the higher education budget.

New figures show students from outside Britain and the EU will pay an average of �10,463 in tuition fees next year ? a rise of 5.6 per cent.

One university ? Imperial College London ? is preparing to charge fees of up to �26,250 for some laboratory-based subjects.
Under Government rules, tuition fees for all British students and those from EU member states are capped at �3,290 next year, but universities are free to set unlimited fees for foreign undergraduates.

A study earlier this year by the think-tank Policy Exchange found that overseas students were increasingly seen as a ?lucrative source of income for a growing numbers of universities?.

Posted by: Alex Sunday, 27 January 2013 11:28 PM[UAE] - Dubai

Agree, I have my daughter as an overseas student at Central Saint Martins College and tuition and accommodation in student quarters is equal to Year 10 for my son at GEMS Wellington in Dubai.... No issue normally if quality of education was worth the investment, however, teachers who treat assignments in Dubai as a working holiday and the constant 'in and out' with no continuity of teaching staff makes the quality suffer and the students lacking encouragement and commitment....

Posted by: Dr Salman Hameed Sunday, 27 January 2013 11:23 PM[UAE] - UAE

No taxes here in UAE. Even the services here offered to all residents way better than any other country in the world. We dont pay a dollar or pound or Euro to use public toilets like many Western countries despite all the taxes they pay. Education is far more superior in private schools here as compared to western public schools. That's why hundred of thousands of westerners do not want to go back to their own countries as the level and quality of life they enjoy in Dubai is far superior to that in any other country. If you are a law abiding residents than there are no problems. The local emirati community is educated and very tolerant. I have lived in UK and Canada and USA and I know what I am talking about.
I can spend on health and education from the money I save for not paying taxes. I dont have to wait for months or sometimes years waiting for doctors appointments or investigations.
LONG LIVE UAE AND its leaders and all the residents.
May God bless this country.

Posted by: Telcoguy Monday, 28 January 2013 4:10 PM[UAE] - UAE

You really do nto know what you are talking about if you think education here is any good. Check any international benchmark like PISA for primary education or the scores of UAE residents (or worst, UAE nationals) at GMAT, GRE or even TOEFL
Denying the problem will do nothing to solve it, but hey, your country, your choice

Posted by: Oldtimer Monday, 28 January 2013 11:42 AM[UAE] - UAE

Most of what you mentioned is true, but the level of education here is really pathetic! I am comparing it to the private education I received in a third world country, for far less money ( exchange rates considered)! There was far more commitment to quality education and the teachers were very dedicated to their students. The GEMS group is spoiling the reputation of Dubai by dishing out mediocre fare for top dollar. What is adding to the helplessness of the parents is the near monopoly they have in Indian-curriculum schools. We have a wonderful life here and would like to stay together as a family, and not have to send our kids away to get a better education. We would (at lest I would) gladly pay top dollar, if they only provided quality education. Despite the exorbitant fees they charge, their teachers are paid a pittance, so qualified and experienced ones don't stay for long. The result is a constant change of teachers which adversely affects the students performance

Posted by: Gamal Monday, 28 January 2013 11:36 AM[UAE] - UAE

Mr. Salman,
with all due respect, we are talking about cost of education and you are talking about taxes which is irrelevant.

schools are suppose to be either non-profit Org or they are regulated in the sense that they can not simply charge as they like.

as the article mentioned, the KJ student pays more that the university student....where is the sense here.

we need gov intervention just like any other sector..banking etc.
although the quality of education is not the issue here but you went to compare the UK / western education to Dubai schools....which is a poor discussion because it is not relevant and also we all know all the breakthroughs came from the west/ USA ...if u want to compare MIT/ Harvard/ Stanford/Berkely / Oxford/ Cambridge etc.

as a matter of fact, the curriculum that the schools teach in Dubai is either British or American.

so let's not divert and lets compare apples to apples.

the question here is the cost of education period.

Posted by: one of the joes Monday, 28 January 2013 11:34 AM[UAE] - uae

Dear Salman, your Dr does not help you from making unqualified statements, it appears. many expats that I know left & live & work happily in countries where they have to pay taxes. I have sent my children back to Europe to attend (private) schools there. All of our children confirm how much better the schools (curriculum, teachers, infrastructure) are compared to here. All of our kids have been to a number of high cost schools in Dubai, they know what they are talking about.
you pay for what you use here, that's just a different collection scheme than with taxes. Nothing is for free here, but that is also not expected.
And in regard to medical services - you know where many Emiratis go for treatment? Europe, namely Germany and UK. Same doctors work here & in Europe, different price. European prices are lower as there is no real estate bubble surcharge one of the joes included in Europe prices.
I still live here as I am closer to where the biz is - in the Gulf region, not for taxes

Posted by: Maj Sunday, 27 January 2013 3:06 PM[UAE] - UAE

The greed of the education business people will never stop, and yet, govt. isn't doing a thing about it..... till it will become too late, as usual...... yeah, you heard me, it happens that they are reactive where they should proactive...... yeah, thanks lord, there is at least some kind of activeness so to say.

Pity people have to pay this much of money to give their kids a proper education, where education should be a mission, a mission to be given with the minimum cost to cover the expenses, not to make a huge profit out of it !

let's open a school, have low cost teachers and not even pay them (they need jobs, right?) and overcharge the hell out of everyone who need to educate their kids.