Sharjah pupils held in classroom over parents’ late fee payments

Sharjah Educational Zone has launched an investigation after the 7 and 8-year-old pupils were detained by the school.

SHARJAH // A private school in Sharjah detained 15 of its pupils in a classroom on Monday and refused to allow them to leave until their parents had paid all the late instalments.

The boys and girls, who are believed to be 7 and 8 years old, were told they would not have lessons that day but could not go to meet their parents.

The principal of the school, N A, said that the pupils were kept in a classroom by a teacher.

She said that this was the equivalent of giving them a one-day suspension, which is allowed under Sharjah law.

The school’s reason for this, she said, was that the parents had a poor attitude to paying the fees. Despite constant reminders, they still delayed paying what they owed.

Hassa Al Khaja, head of private education at the Sharjah Educational Zone, expressed her dissatisfaction with the school’s actions.

She said pupils should not be brought into a financial dispute between parents and the school.

“The law gives the school the right to suspend the student but not detain him or her,” said Ms Al Khaja, adding that under no circumstance should pupils be detained like this.

A committee from the educational zone will be formed to investigate in the incident.