Parents told to withdraw children from US-run Dubai school

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority has suspended the operating licence of the Dubai American Scientific School. The authority has also banned the school from enrolling children for the new academic year.

DUBAI//  Education officials have asked hundreds of parents to withdraw their children from an American school in the emirate after it recorded several violations by its management.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has suspended the operating licence of the Dubai American Scientific School (DASS). The authority has also banned the school from enrolling children for the new academic year.

"After a series of repeated violations which it failed to address, KHDA has temporarily suspended the education permit of DASS," said Abdulrahman Nassir, executive director of customer relations at KHDA.

"Under the suspension put in place in August, DASS is prohibited from accepting new students for the 2012-2013 academic year."

"Certificates of students who enrolled for the first time in September 2012 will not be attested by KHDA and no transfer certificate will be provided."

Mr Nassir said the authority will provide support to parents who will be affected by the decision.

The school has been performing poorly since the start of the inspection undertaken by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB). The KHDA bases certain regulations on the results of the school inspections. In all the inspections conducted at the school since 2008, DASS has been rated 'unsatisfactory'.

The school appointed a new principal to turn the situation around this year and tackle unruly behaviour and below standard teaching but has not managed to do so.

Mr Nassir said the authority wanted to ensure that private school students had access to highest quality of education possible and the step had to be taken.

A unsatisfied parent who had a daughter in junior school took her child out this academic year. "We had heard of violent incidents at the school and I did not want my daughter to continue and be exposed to that," she said.

The mother said there were several other safety issues that worried her including unsafe parking areas and bus rules. "During pick up and drop off cars would be all over the place and children running between them. I raised this with the management but they did not do anything."