Pupils expelled over unpaid dues back in school

Three Emirati siblings who were suspended from Repton School Dubai over unpaid tuition fees of Dh332,000, will be taken back by the school, Gulf News has learnt. A source at the school confirmed that following talks with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the school has decided to allow the students back in the school. On Wednesday, Gulf News had reported that the three siblings — a 12-year-old and his two elder sisters — were expelled as their father, a government employee, was unable to pay their fees on time. However, a source at the school clarified that the children were not expelled but only suspended as their fees were not paid. "Expulsion was a misunderstanding on the part of the father." The father had himself signed a document last year, which said that he would withdraw the children from the school if he is not able to meet his obligations, the source added. Meanwhile, the father said that he met with the school officials on Sunday, based on KHDA's instructions, and paid up Dh20,000. Paying up arrears He said that he will be issuing cheques to commit to paying the remaining amount. The father had on Tuesday complained to KHDA that his children were expelled from the school, although schools are not allowed to do so without KHDA's approval. He cited financial issues — mainly loss of returns in property investments — as the reason for being unable to pay up on time. The total annual tuition fees for the siblings add up to around Dh207,500 per year, at Dh75,000 per year for the eldest daughter in Grade 10, Dh67,500 per year for the younger daughter in Grade 8 and Dh65,000 per year for the son in Grade 7. The dues for two academic years (the current year and the previous year) had accumulated to around Dh410,000. The father was able to pay up Dh78,000 over the past few months, bringing down the dues to Dh332,000. Worries of losing a year He had earlier said that he was extremely worried about his children losing an academic year. "It's over 10 days since they are at home and their exams are coming up, end of this month," he said on Sunday. The father also admitted signing the agreement with the school last year that allows the school to expel his children if he didn't pay Dh38,000 per month.