'Schooling is a necessity, not a luxury': How affordable education plans in Dubai can ease pressure on pupils

Parents and educators in Dubai have praised a "well-needed" push to increase the provision of affordable schooling in the emirate.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, this month approved plans to build 60 new affordable schools to serve 120,000 pupils by 2033, as part of a long-term strategy aimed at improving access to quality education.

“I think it’s brilliant and well-needed,” said Shazia Bharuchi, a career consultant and mother of two. “Schooling is a necessity, it’s not a luxury. It should really be affordable, so I'm really happy about this initiative.”

Dino Varkey, group chief executive of Gems Education, said there was a misconception that cheaper schooling meant lower-quality education. "Rather, it simply means we are more efficient in how we delivery quality without compromising on standard," he said. “True affordability means providing families with access to excellent teaching, diverse opportunities and modern learning environments that deliver exceptional outcomes at a sustainable fee level."

As the largest education group, serving about 80,000 pupils across the UAE, Gems runs a wide variety of schools, from the most expensive to some of the emirate's most affordable. The biggest difference between schools at both ends of the spectrum is the types of facilities, breadth of curriculums and extracurricular opportunities, Mr Varkey added.

"Premium schools may offer larger campuses, specialised labs and a wider range of programmes, while more affordable schools focus on providing the same rigorous curriculum and excellent teaching within a more cost-efficient model," he said.

The group opened the UAE's most expensive school this year, with fees at the Gems School of Research and Innovation in Dubai ranging from Dh116,000 ($31,500) for pupils in Foundation Stage One, to Dh206,000 in Year 12.

Fees of about Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 per annum for the lower years are common, but some schools can be as low as Dh4,000, including Al Sadiq Islamic English School and Crescent English High School, for example.

Citywide effort

The emirate will seek to encourage investors to establish lower-cost schools by offering discounts on government fees, including reduced land leasing costs, as part of the newly announced scheme.