School places controversy rages on

Dear Betsy, I, unfortunately, know too well how cruel and unfair the private education system is here in Bahrain.

My family arrived in April, we have a six-year-old son who has a speech and mild learning delay but no behavioural problems whatsoever. He came from a mainstream school in the UK, where he coped well.

We approached a well-known school here to be told, they do not accept any kind of additional needs – not interested, no discussion.

The school in question is well-known for their complete disregard for ‘customer care’ and general aloof arrogance – say no more.

The second school we approached offered him an assessment, the head teacher of the junior school was keen to accept him, however, the decision was with the teacher, who agreed – yes – he is mainstream schooling but “not in my class”.

I always make a point of re-emphasising – my son has NO behavioral issues and no ‘label’ as such he is just slower at learning.

He is not ‘special’ needs – just ‘additional’ needs, needs for which we are perfectly willing to pay slightly more to have addressed.

The third school we approached said yes we will take him but we have no place. Hooray – some semblance of progress! We decided to home-school him until a place became available.

We were told we were No 1 on the waiting list for Year 1. 

We have two younger children who we had enrolled at another nursery in Saar. I went to the school the day before the official start date, to check the admission status and then every few days thereafter.

Each time I was told, yes No 1 on the waiting list – but on the proviso that the two younger siblings are enrolled into the nursery with fees paid etc. 

Consequently, we withdrew his siblings from their nursery in Saar and enrolled them at School 3.

I was therefore appalled to learn that another student has just started after not being on the waiting list and that he is now in the class that my son should have been FIRST on the waiting list for.

To make a bad situation even worse the student had actually commenced the school year at another school – meaning that this school chose a student who had a secure offer of education over a child who had none. 

In my opinion, this is nothing short of a disgrace and a clear case of discrimination. It is even more galling, given that we appear to have been duped into enrolling his siblings into the school on the basis of a false promise.

I am now at my wits’ end – it would seem there are no governing or regulatory bodies and that teachers/administrators can pick and choose their students and then claim wonderful SAT results due to their ‘exceptional teaching’ strategies. 

Hell – I could cherry pick the best students, take a fat fee and still come out the other side with good SAT results – and I am nowhere near being a teacher!

The schools all advertise UK curriculum, however in the UK integration is promoted wherever at all possible.

The schools in Bahrain are opportunistic and just want to take the fee without any extra effort.

I would be grateful if anyone could give me details on how to get some action above teacher/administrator level.

I have read somewhere that the Bahrain government is cracking down on education-related ‘corruption’, ie schools accepting ‘fees/donations’ in return for pupil placement (although the thought of the government cracking down on anything does make me laugh!). Any advice would be most appreciated.

Many thanks,

Vanessa.

Dear Vanessa,

I have re-read your letter several times and I still don’t know what to say to you.

Your story is truly appalling and I really feel for you and your family. Such behaviour is disgusting.

Your story will touch the hearts of GulfWeekly readers even if it did not touch the hearts of some of those in the education business.

Whilst it is understandable that a school desires the best results for its pupils, I agree with you that the school should be inclusive of all nationalities and abilities to make it a truly outstanding educational establishment.

The teacher, who agreed that your son should be in mainstream education but not in her class, is a sad reflection of what private education seems to have become in some schools today.

As parents, we think that if we are paying for a private education it will provide what our children truly need, and that is true but only it seems, if it fits in with exactly what the curriculum/school/teacher has in mind. 

I hasten to add that I know some truly dedicated teaching professionals working in Bahrain but I have also witnessed and experienced the opposite over the years, encountering arrogance, indifference and downright rudeness … and paying through the nose for it too! 

Have your tried writing to the school governors and/or the owner if it is a privately-owned school?

If this school is affiliated with any international organisation then you could consider writing about your concerns to them also as they will have strict rules and regulations for member schools. 

You can also write to the embassy or consulate of the country whose curriculum and examinations they offer as they may be in a position to offer you further advice and support.

I strongly urge you, and others who may find themselves in similar circumstances, write to either the Minister of Education or the director of Private Education at the Ministry of Education, as all private schools are under their authority.

This may not solve your immediate problem but if the ministry is not made aware of these situations then they cannot take any action or put into place future rules and regulations that will prevent this from happening to others.

As for your remark about the Bahrain government not cracking down on things, I think that the recent cases reported in the media where employees of large companies have been prosecuted for alleged corruption, even at the most senior management levels, shows that there is a serious willingness by the government to ensure the law is followed … but someone has to be brave enough to blow the whistle.

Dear Betsy,

You asked for others to write in with their education problems.

My husband has been working in Saudi Arabia for a year and the children and I moved there also from England. 

Our two children were enrolled in school there but it was the US system and our children were used to the UK one.

We visited schools in Bahrain with the UK system but they were full last year but advised us that our children would be admitted in September this year.

I was so happy and we began house hunting in Bahrain in May and found the perfect family home.

My husband continued with his job and commuted every day which is a strain but we felt it was worth it for our children to have good schooling for their future.

Off we went on holiday and we returned ready for the new school year to be told there were no places for our children after all.

Their excuses were many, all petty; wrong form filled in, child who said he was leaving changed his mind, mistake with numbers in one class.

I was speechless and my children now have to commute with their father every day to Saudi Arabia where luckily their old school took them back. Moving back to Saudi is not an option as we have signed a two-year lease for our home here.

My children passed their entrance exams, we paid a deposit fee (which they refunded) and still our children are unable to get a decent education. 

When I complained I was told that the school has the final say on who is admitted and that passing the entrance exam and paying a deposit still did not guarantee us a place. So what does then? Should I have paid “other fees” that no one told me about? Did someone else who did this get my children’s places?

Bitter, Angry Mother.

Dear Bitter, Angry Mother,

I am so sorry to hear of your bad experience. As you say, passing the entrance exam and paying the deposit would convince you that your children were officially enrolled at this school.

The questionable decision made by that headmaster has had so many repercussions for your family and I can only repeat my advice of urging you to write to the Minister of Education and report your situation.