UAE Students Skip First Week of School to Dodge High Airfare Costs

After a two-month summer break, schools in the UAE will reopen on Monday, August 26, 2024. However, the first week often sees a significant number of absentees, with some schools reporting 15 to 25 percent of students missing, according to school principals in the region.

This trend is largely due to expatriate families attempting to save on airfare. Air travel costs typically double in late August as the back-to-school season begins, prompting many families to delay their return to the UAE.

Abhilasha Singh, Principal of Shining Star International School, noted that this phenomenon is particularly noticeable in schools following the Indian curriculum. "High absenteeism in the first week of school reopening is very peculiar to the UAE," Singh remarked. "The main reason is the high ticket price."

Despite the challenges, Singh emphasized the importance of attendance from day one. "We encourage parents to value school attendance as it's directly linked to student performance. However, many parents from low to mid-income expatriate families tend to save on travel costs, resulting in about 75 percent attendance in the first week after schools reopen in August."

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To address the issue, late-arriving students must meet with their designated senior leadership team, and the school's attendance policy is communicated to parents, including potential consequences for missing days. "Parents are responsible for ensuring their children make up for missed days," Singh added. "There should be some regulation on fare pricing as it's unfair to low and middle-income individuals who are burdened by high airfares, significantly impacting their finances."

Other school leaders echoed similar concerns, stressing the importance of students returning on time to reestablish their learning routines. Sangita Chima, Principal of Amity School Dubai, highlighted that absenteeism tends to be higher in the Foundational and Primary Sections, with about 15 to 25 percent of students missing. However, the Board Classes usually see full attendance. "Returning to school on time reduces stress and anxiety," Chima noted.

Parents also weighed in on their decisions to return late. Ami Rasheed, who traveled to Kerala, India, explained that her family chose to return later to save on airfare. "We plan to return by the end of August or within a week of the school reopening," she said. "My husband will return earlier for work, but my children and I will come back later, depending on ticket prices." Rasheed mentioned that the one-way fare from Kozhikode to Dubai was over Dh1,000 per person, a 60-70 percent increase compared to earlier prices. "It makes sense to wait a bit longer to see if the prices decrease," she added.

Aanchal Tomar, currently in Rohtak, India, also opted to return late due to a family obligation on August 30. "This year, we have a family event that I don't want to miss," Tomar said. "We haven't visited India in one-and-a-half years, and this function is a rare opportunity to reunite with my extended family." Tomar acknowledged the high airfare and noted that missing a few early school days was a reasonable trade-off given the circumstances.

Despite the challenges posed by late arrivals, schools are prepared to help students catch up. Ghadeer Abu-Shamat, Superintendent/CEO of GEMS Al Khaleej International School and Senior Vice President of GEMS Education, stated that while a small number of students returning late can be challenging, schools work closely with families to ensure a smooth transition. "Returning on time is crucial for maintaining the continuity of education and ensuring that students take advantage of important learning opportunities," Abu-Shamat emphasized. "It also allows students to reconnect with friends, meet their new teachers, and adapt smoothly to new phases in their educational journey."

As schools reopen, the focus remains on balancing the financial realities faced by expatriate families with the educational needs of students, ensuring that every child can resume their learning journey without significant disruption.