Private Tutors are Illegal - The National.

It;s not illegal to employ a tutor, but it is illegal to employ an illegal tutor. And all free lance tutors are just that. Perhaps once the new law about professional expats being allowed to work partime is clarified, some enterprising teachers should set up a freezone agency to provide suitably quailifed and vetted tutors? It is ridiculous that so many perfectly normal and innocent aspects of life in UAE are illegal, but the antiquated sponsorship system prevents "normal service " in so many, many ways. By criminalising everyday activities the usual protections are removed, since nothing is above board and transparent, but instead driven underground.. Sad isn't it?

I don't understand those people saying how much we pay for school here, don't most companies pay for schooling here and that is the point? It may be more expensive but it's irrelevant because the company is paying? For any child to excel I think extra tutoring is a must, I don't see how it is any different from extra lessons? There are some really great schools here, maybe few and far between. Even so, it doesn't do any harm to challenge your child with extra tuition if you want them to do really well. edited by jwal on 16/01/2011 This is the problem, why are people accepting these low standards? Because they’re not paying for it out of their own pockets? I paid more in Dubai for education than in a UK private school and that is without adding on top tutors, after school activities and lunches. It really annoys me that people assume that everyone gets their fees paid.....they don’t, some of us work very hard to put our children through school here. I don’t think parents are using tutors for their children “to get ahead” most parents I know use tutors for their children to stay abreast of their curriculum from home so at least they have a chance of getting into a good school / Uni when they return home.

Umm without wishing to be controversial my child has a tutor because it is a subject I am unable to assist with. yes the school should and does assist but the effects of education around the world for my child have meant there are areas that need catching up on. And no one, absolutely no one will tell me if I can or cant have a tutor. Tutors in the UK, for sure are not normally registered to pay taxes so what is the difference? Yes it is illegal here and there ( I am not able to comment on any other country) but if it wasnt so complicated then maybe it wouldnt be illegal. Addtitionally my child is in the next room when taking tuition therefore there is absolutely no chance of anything untoward happening. The bottom line is yes some education here is poor, but there will always be a need for tutors regardless of what schools offer. Parents will always find a way to do what they perceive as best for their child/ren.

I don't understand those people saying how much we pay for school here, don't most companies pay for schooling here and that is the point? It may be more expensive but it's irrelevant because the company is paying? For any child to excel I think extra tutoring is a must, I don't see how it is any different from extra lessons? There are some really great schools here, maybe few and far between. Even so, it doesn't do any harm to challenge your child with extra tuition if you want them to do really well. edited by jwal on 16/01/2011 Jwal your assumption that most companies pay for schooling is waaaaay out - we don't get school fees and neither do most of our friends.... I didn't realise, if that were the case for us I really don't think it would be worth our while staying. With three children to put through school and all other expenses of being here we'd have nothing left. So that must mean your dh's basic wage is much higher than it would be back home to make it worth your while and cover schooling. I don't know, I may be way out again. <em>edited by jwal on 16/01/2011</em>

A question for mums of kids who have sat their O' and A' Levels (or equivalent) / are going to sit this summer. Have your children's teachers managed to cover the entire syllabus for each subject prior to the exam?

I don't understand those people saying how much we pay for school here, don't most companies pay for schooling here and that is the point? It may be more expensive but it's irrelevant because the company is paying? For any child to excel I think extra tutoring is a must, I don't see how it is any different from extra lessons? There are some really great schools here, maybe few and far between. Even so, it doesn't do any harm to challenge your child with extra tuition if you want them to do really well. edited by jwal on 16/01/2011 Please expand on "There are some really great schools here, maybe few and far between". Why would anyone want to challenge their child using extra tuition? Is this not the role of the school via G&T and extention deduced by assessment? So if a company is paying the fees parents should not worry about the standard of education ? Hi Wicket, what I mean is that there are a few really great schools here. Do you mean gifted and talented in schools? I think parents here are generally more ambitious for their children and it is very competitive, therefore you will find more parents employ tutors to help their child exceed. In regards to the company paying, all I meant was that people compare private schools here to back home. They are not the same by a long shot, just because you are paying for school here it is not the same standard as a private school in the UK, it should be considered more or less the equivilent of your taxes going on schooling back home. Only a really small percentage of those in the UK could afford to send their kids to a private school based on the average family wage, if you research the percentage of UK population that actually attend private school I think it's maybe less than 5 percent.

School standards apart, private tutoring for money has always been illegal........no different from freelancing hairdressers or illegal maids. Working for anyone other than a sponsor is against UAE law.

There were reports in the past that some teachers in schools with very low fees and with very low salaries for teachers were deliberately not covering material adequately in class in order to create a need for tutoring and hence an additional income for themselves. I think it's hard for the schools here as if they do offer extra tutoring, parents may think the above is happening but it is a fact that some children struggle with certain subjects and it may only need tutoring for a short length of time to bring a child up to speed, particularly if the child is transferring from a different curriculum. It is probaby better that the whole system is properly regulated with companies employing tutors and individuals finding tutors through the company. There would then be some checking of qualifications, experience etc. Some of the rates I've heard tutors charging are frankly outrageous considering these people are usually operating from their own homes and don't have the business overheads like rents, licence etc.

What if you help and tutor friend's children on a regular basis for free? If the authorities starts questioning, how can one prove that you are not getting paid?

I don't understand those people saying how much we pay for school here, don't most companies pay for schooling here and that is the point? It may be more expensive but it's irrelevant because the company is paying? For any child to excel I think extra tutoring is a must, I don't see how it is any different from extra lessons? There are some really great schools here, maybe few and far between. Even so, it doesn't do any harm to challenge your child with extra tuition if you want them to do really well. edited by jwal on 16/01/2011 Please expand on "There are some really great schools here, maybe few and far between". Why would anyone want to challenge their child using extra tuition? Is this not the role of the school via G&T and extention deduced by assessment? So if a company is paying the fees parents should not worry about the standard of education ?

Forgot to put link to my previous post http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=126521

I wondered about the regulation of private tutors a while back - I don't have kids at school here (too old, lol) but it does appall me that not all teachers in schools are fully qualified andthere doesn't seem to be checks in some schools - the good ones yes, but some of the newer ones basically employ some backpackers who may have done a teaching course but haven't done the requisite year/two years under a mentor teacher in order to complete registration. I thought (and please correct me ladies) that all teachers/tutors here were required to have a police clearance, FULL teaching registration, and be assigned to a recognised school - how is it that some schools get away without meeting these requirements? When the KHDA inspectors come round do they actually check on the teachers qualifications and whether or not these have been given recognition/attested here? And on the same topic, when do the KHDA release the reports of the inspections they have just done - is it March or September?

I don't understand those people saying how much we pay for school here, don't most companies pay for schooling here and that is the point? It may be more expensive but it's irrelevant because the company is paying? For any child to excel I think extra tutoring is a must, I don't see how it is any different from extra lessons? There are some really great schools here, maybe few and far between. Even so, it doesn't do any harm to challenge your child with extra tuition if you want them to do really well. <em>edited by jwal on 16/01/2011</em>

I know 3 great tutors and they are all appalled at the standard of education in their schools. Children are coming up through the system without even the basic skills being taught hence the need for tutors by so many parents. That's got b-all to do with being in Dubai. Fine, if you are among the minority who can afford private/boarding school in England, but for those who have to deal with the state school system there, look at the post code lottery and the way the rest of Europe sees British (except Scottish) education as below par. The point is YOU are paying vast amounts of money for your child’s education in Dubai in the UK its free ! edited by tally-ho on 16/01/2011 It's not free it's included in taxes.

Gleek you read but you apparently have not always comprehended and have questionably a complete lack of understanding of how some of the schools run. First off, I read and comprehend just fine. When your kids hit secondary Gleek, come back to me and share your views, i hope they are all wonderfully positive. What is it exactly that secondary school experience has to do with this? Is it only secondary school children who need tutoring? Is it only secondary school parents that can comment on anything that has to do with schooling? Hmmmm... You cannot argue back the points I have set forth, instead you try to insult me or claim I have no relevant opinion in this matter. Luckily KHDA is in action and aware that the education sectors need improvement across the board, maybe you should write to them and tell them they are wasting their time, to forget the inspections and implementing new regulations as it's all wonder-bar according to your wealth of experience on the subject (within Dubai). :) I never said that everything was great living here, but how about thinking about more than what you can see in front of your face? I have been on both sides of the education argument here and it's because there is no easy answer. We are living in a place where the schools are made up of a hodge podge of learning abilities and styles simply because the students are expats. Imagine the teacher's plight as she looks at my son's class who has children from Korea, Japan, UAE, US, Canada, Greece and how many other countries? Should schools not accept children if they have limited knowledge of a particular curriculum? Come on...these are challenges, schools and parents both are responsible for a child's education. You can't just stick a child in a school for XXXX AED, wash your hands and say, "Well I'm paying for a good education, they better come out with one." That's simply not how it's going to work. Remember, it is highly disruptive for children to move from one place to another during their school years. From a social, psychological and educational standpoint...they are being uprooted from a system they have been working within for years and are thrust into a new one. So if a parent seeks additional help for their child, isn't that a positive thing? And if the government regulates that industry, isn't that also a positive thing? What exactly is the issue? Also, private schools in many countries are generally considered to deliver a higher standard of education (that is what we pay for) and is optional. [u'>But the definition of a private school here is not the same[/u'>. It is not a choice, it is a standard cost of living as an expat in Dubai. If you consider that the private school education here is similar to public option in most countries, then I think you might find that the level of education is quite similar. (And great job keeping to the subject and not making it personal)

I know 3 great tutors and they are all appalled at the standard of education in their schools. Children are coming up through the system without even the basic skills being taught hence the need for tutors by so many parents. That's got b-all to do with being in Dubai. Fine, if you are among the minority who can afford private/boarding school in England, but for those who have to deal with the state school system there, look at the post code lottery and the way the rest of Europe sees British (except Scottish) education as below par. The point is YOU are paying vast amounts of money for your child’s education in Dubai in the UK its free ! <em>edited by tally-ho on 16/01/2011</em>

Which agrees with the point that there is a fundemental poblem with schools if a high percentage are requiring extra tuition outside of school. Many state schools in the UK, actually probably more the majority are excellent! I can't speak for England, it being yea years since I lived there. My brother moved his family to Canada because of the poor standard of state education in London (in a bastion of educated middle-classness, mind, not yer Inner City). My daughter was at a "good" private school in Switzerland and a lot of the children there still needed outside tuition in some subjects for whatever reason. No matter how "good" the school is, I think there will always be a certain percentage of parents who will give their children outside tuition to "get ahead."

my mother does private tutoring after she comes from school and honestly that's the only way we manage to live here and afford all expenditures, actually she makes more money with giving tuition than teaching at school and she cannot just stop giving tuition.However i wonder how serious the illegality of private tuition is..I mean let's say some 'bad guy' reported the private tutor to authorities, what could happen? Would there be any serious enforcement of the law?

I know 3 great tutors and they are all appalled at the standard of education in their schools. Children are coming up through the system without even the basic skills being taught hence the need for tutors by so many parents. That's got b-all to do with being in Dubai. Fine, if you are among the minority who can afford private/boarding school in England, but for those who have to deal with the state school system there, look at the post code lottery and the way the rest of Europe sees British (except Scottish) education as below par. Which agrees with the point that there is a fundemental poblem with schools if a high percentage are requiring extra tuition outside of school. Many state schools in the UK, actually probably more the majority are excellent! I can't speak for England, it being yea years since I lived there. My brother moved his family to Canada because of the poor standard of state education in London (in a bastion of educated middle-classness, mind, not yer Inner City). My daughter was at a "good" private school in Switzerland and a lot of the children there still needed outside tuition in some subjects for whatever reason.

I know 3 great tutors and they are all appalled at the standard of education in their schools. Children are coming up through the system without even the basic skills being taught hence the need for tutors by so many parents. That's got b-all to do with being in Dubai. Fine, if you are among the minority who can afford private/boarding school in England, but for those who have to deal with the state school system there, look at the post code lottery and the way the rest of Europe sees British (except Scottish) education as below par. Which agrees with the point that there is a fundemental poblem with schools if a high percentage are requiring extra tuition outside of school. Many state schools in the UK, actually probably more the majority are excellent!

I know 3 great tutors and they are all appalled at the standard of education in their schools. Children are coming up through the system without even the basic skills being taught hence the need for tutors by so many parents. That's got b-all to do with being in Dubai. Fine, if you are among the minority who can afford private/boarding school in England, but for those who have to deal with the state school system there, look at the post code lottery and the way the rest of Europe sees British (except Scottish) education as below par.

I know 3 great tutors and they are all appalled at the standard of education in their schools. Children are coming up through the system without even the basic skills being taught hence the need for tutors by so many parents.

Why do I get into these arguments with someone whose sole purpose is to be a negative Nelly...oh well. Jumeirah Jane, you are quite the one to talk about having a discussion w/out making it personal. Every education thread you post on is a negative comment about the quality of schools here. How must the teacher/tutors you know feel that their work is not good enough to your standards! It is the teachers that teach right? Not the administrators or the owners of the schools... Also, you might not know what an oxymoron is...but your assignment of that term to a quote from my post makes no sense at all. Opinions given from those in glass houses and bad form...yes, your assumption of other people's situations is just that. Gleek you read but you apparently have not always comprehended and have questionably a complete lack of understanding of how some of the schools run. In fact only earlier today i wrote a post to another giving her some great feedback i had heard on a school she was interested in previously that no one commented on. When your kids hit secondary Gleek, come back to me and share your views, i hope they are all wonderfully positive. I have always supported good teachers, unfortunately education is not just up to the teachers though is it? Luckily KHDA is in action and aware that the education sectors need improvement across the board, maybe you should write to them and tell them they are wasting their time, to forget the inspections and implementing new regulations as it's all wonder-bar according to your wealth of experience on the subject (within Dubai). :)

Why do I get into these arguments with someone whose sole purpose is to be a negative Nelly...oh well. Jumeirah Jane, you are quite the one to talk about having a discussion w/out making it personal. Every education thread you post on is a negative comment about the quality of schools here. How must the teacher/tutors you know feel that their work is not good enough to your standards! It is the teachers that teach right? Not the administrators or the owners of the schools... Also, you might not know what an oxymoron is...but your assignment of that term to a quote from my post makes no sense at all. Opinions given from those in glass houses and bad form...yes, your assumption of other people's situations is just that.

This is a real shame for some teacher who top up their salary by tutoring. My children would not be where they are today without having had a tutor fill in the gaps left by certain schools. Very good point, the tutors i knew came from one of the International schools here and worked hard tutoring to top up their 12K salaries a month. The made the same in tutoring per month as salary!

doesn't only have to do with the quality of education a child is receiving.[/b'> Bit of an oxymoron that really when you think about it! LOL

That's sad, just sad...

@Jumeriah Jane Where does it say so many parents in Dubai get tutors? I see one part, but I can hardly take the quote in the story seriously as it's so general. "Schools in the UAE have recorded that more than 60 per cent of their pupils from Grade 10 and up sought after-school support" - Which schools? Private? Public? - After school support for what? - 60% of students from Grade 10 on...that makes sense since those are more advanced level studies and time for serious exams that affect college applications. You are basing your prejudice of tutoring on UK vs. Dubai. How do you know it's not just as prevalent in other countries? Again, as Wendopia and I have stated, in North America tutoring is quite common practice and doesn't only have to do with the quality of education a child is receiving. From all your posts about education here, it's quite evident that you are on a quest to slog Dubai education off as much as possible. If you are such the education advocate, why not spend more of your time DOING something instead of whining? The EW poster Redlesley is a prime example of such a person acting instead of complaining. What has Redlesley got to do with this? From my experience Gleek, yes mine, i know more people here who seek tutors for their children than when i have been in other countries. The general consensus is that children are behind their home countries in terms of education and need to fill the gaps. If it wasn't such a problem the authorities would not be jumping on it would they? And yes whilst the odd child may need some extra help outside of school, i do also believe that in the right schools that help is given and effective teaching will relieve the need for quite so much tutoring outside of school at parental cost. An awful lot of tutoring here is covering what should have been done within the class room. I base that on knowing several very popular tutors and what they have told me they are actually teaching. And if that doesn't link to weakness within education pray tell what it does link to? It would be nice to have a discussion without the personal stuff Gleek, quite unnecessary and rather bad form, glass houses and all.

This is a real shame for some teacher who top up their salary by tutoring. My children would not be where they are today without having had a tutor fill in the gaps left by certain schools.

@Jumeriah Jane Where does it say so many parents in Dubai get tutors? I see one part, but I can hardly take the quote in the story seriously as it's so general. "Schools in the UAE have recorded that more than 60 per cent of their pupils from Grade 10 and up sought after-school support" - Which schools? Private? Public? - After school support for what? - 60% of students from Grade 10 on...that makes sense since those are more advanced level studies and time for serious exams that affect college applications. You are basing your prejudice of tutoring on UK vs. Dubai. How do you know it's not just as prevalent in other countries? Again, as Wendopia and I have stated, in North America tutoring is quite common practice and doesn't only have to do with the quality of education a child is receiving. From all your posts about education here, it's quite evident that you are on a quest to slog Dubai education off as much as possible. If you are such the education advocate, why not spend more of your time DOING something instead of whining? The EW poster Redlesley is a prime example of such a person acting instead of complaining.