GEMS Nations - worth the costs? | ExpatWoman.com
 

GEMS Nations - worth the costs?

117
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2016 - 23:52
it almost feels like a game - who can get away with the most ridiculous and absurdly high fees and still sell it to parents (who are also paying!!) i don't get it. tuition for kg is more than i paid for a year at university. like 2 times more. i am just flabbergasted.
117
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2016 - 23:52
it almost feels like a game - who can get away with the most ridiculous and absurdly high fees and still sell it to parents (who are also paying!!) i don't get it. tuition for kg is more than i paid for a year at university. like 4 times more. i am just flabbergasted.
1257
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 22 March 2016 - 11:40
Thank you everyone. So, next question is two or three schools (American Curriculum) that I should be looking into. I feel I might be leaving it too late, but being new to Dubai it's hard to find honest information about schools. American Curriculum schools are generally more expensive than British curriculum for example. The more established American Curriculum schools include: - GEMS Dubai American Academy (KG1 fees is AED 20467, KG2 fees is 53752, Grade 1-12 fees is 75775) - American School of Dubai (KG1 fees is 54839, KG2 fees is 58978, Grade 1-12 fees is 75297) - Collegiate American School (KG1 fees is 38230, KG2 fees is 44603, Grade 1-12 fees is 69028) hope this helps...
14
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 March 2016 - 08:25
Thank you everyone. So, next question is two or three schools (American Curriculum) that I should be looking into. I feel I might be leaving it too late, but being new to Dubai it's hard to find honest information about schools.
14
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 March 2016 - 08:22
At that price I suggest you look elsewhere - it's more than the Y12 fees in many other schools! If you have younger children or plan to have more while you are here, you'll be paying more than one set of fees. 84K for KG1 in a brand new school with shiny facilities but no track record (and presumably with the teething troubles which all new schools have) is probably not the best value for money. Be aware that school fees here always go up, never down. i wouldn't consider it worth it either... especially since your KG1 child won't be using a lot of the wow facilities that the school offers such as - 50m olympic pool - 400m running track - theater - music & art studios - science labs This has been my concern (both how much of the facilities he will use) and secondly, a school with no track record.
188
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 16:53
This school follows American curriculum as ad states and I've noticed all American curriculum schools have very high fee structures. Maybe because there aren't many of them? But yes, 84k for KG1 is ridiculously high. We are paying 75k for Grade 3 in DAA and want to move to some other school. It is too expensive for us. Average fees are around 45k for the same year in most of the schools (IB curriculum or British) and KGs are around 20-30k.
62
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 13:33
The only reason any person would pay that amount is to ensure their children are surrounded by other privileged children and their wealthy parents.
458
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 12:54
Oh my God. This makes me sick 84K for KG1 ?!?! What's happening here? What's happening here?...That's a very good question :)
27
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 12:05
Oh my God. This makes me sick 84K for KG1 ?!?! What's happening here?
1257
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 11:34
At that price I suggest you look elsewhere - it's more than the Y12 fees in many other schools! If you have younger children or plan to have more while you are here, you'll be paying more than one set of fees. 84K for KG1 in a brand new school with shiny facilities but no track record (and presumably with the teething troubles which all new schools have) is probably not the best value for money. Be aware that school fees here always go up, never down. i wouldn't consider it worth it either... especially since your KG1 child won't be using a lot of the wow facilities that the school offers such as - 50m olympic pool - 400m running track - theater - music & art studios - science labs
260
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 11:21
At that price I suggest you look elsewhere - it's more than the Y12 fees in many other schools! If you have younger children or plan to have more while you are here, you'll be paying more than one set of fees. 84K for KG1 in a brand new school with shiny facilities but no track record (and presumably with the teething troubles which all new schools have) is probably not the best value for money. Be aware that school fees here always go up, never down.
367
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 09:07
Yes, I have thoughts. AED 84,000 for KG1 is absurd. Schools like these lost sense of reality. But it is a GEMS school, so it's a commercial business.
14
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 08:33
Been researching schools for little one (will be starting KG1) this year. Got invited to a coffee morning at GEMS Nations (have read the principal is from Sidwell). But....fees start at AED84,000. Is this worth it? My husband gets an education allowance, which should cover a part of the fees. Any moms have any thoughts?
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY