Every so often we come across a bit of news that makes us shake our heads in incredulity at the disputes that arise between people due to a lack of communication, or a simple failure to abide by past agreements. That incredulity quickly turns to anger and sheer disgust when the subject of dispute affects the welfare of children.

Falling into the latter category is the row between Global Education Management Systems – a school operator with a network of institutions worldwide (26 in the United Arab Emirates) – and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the educational regulatory authority for Dubai schools, colleges and universities. In September of 2007, GEMS presented the KHDA with a master plan of what they refer to as “conceptual drawings” for the new Dubai Modern High School, and which it stresses does not identify actually facilities in detail. This was followed by a business plan submitted in October of the same year.

According to GEMS, after six months of reviewing the business plan, which included facilities to accommodate 2,400 students, the KHDA approved the plan in May of 2008 and authorized GEMS to hike tuitions by 45 percent the first year, followed by another 31 percent the second year in order to recover the cost the investment made in the new stateof- the-art facilities, on condition all facilities in the plan were complete.

By Staff