Hi there,
I’m a parent at Wellington International School of Dubai. We are facing the same problems as you and are trying to start collective actions to solve our problem. Please let us know if we can and should and in which way unify our actions. Our web log will be live from Sunday 26/10: wisconcernedparents.blogspot.com.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation,
WIS-parents
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Letter to Sunny Varkey
This is the letter that was sent to Mr Varkey along with the signed petition:
Thursday, 15 October, 2008
Sunny Varkey
Founder and Chairman
GEMS Education
Jumeirah Primary School – achieving a brilliant future or sliding into mediocrity
Dear Mr Varkey,
We write to you as protagonists of “for-profit” quality private education, business leaders and foremost as the parent community of the Jumeirah Primary school, JPS.
We fully acknowledge the increasing pressures placed on the school’s economic model, and hence the school’s management, from:
increased operating costs (teacher salaries and accommodation, utilities, rents, ...)
fee caps imposed by the Ministry of Education limiting JPS’s ability to bring fees up to the level of sister GEMS schools in Dubai
intense demand for places at JPS (primarily due to the excellent reputation of the school)
We have however, been greatly disappointed by the way GEMS has implemented the decision to increase class sizes at JPS yet again:
Poor timing – the decision was made during the summer with most parents already committed to another year at JPS
Poor communication – parents only found out about increased class sizes when they walked into class rooms on the first day of school. This has led to an atmosphere of rumours, and further fuelled the perception that Abraaj Capital’s involvement with GEMS will ultimately impact the quality of GEMS education.
Poor subsequent handling – responses to many parent queries over the past few weeks have been impersonal, avoided transparency and assumed that parents would “just fade away”.
Sadly, GEMS has missed a great opportunity to openly share its challenges with a very powerful and influential parent body and harness “parent energy and creativity” to help JPS bridge the period until fees are brought up to the required levels for adequate profitable return.
So we find ourselves in a situation where the trust and goodwill built over years within the adult JPS community has been seriously betrayed and instead that “parent energy and creativity” is now being channelled against the school. Increasingly interactions between staff and parents are becoming bitter and hostile; the children are losing their pride in JPS as they overhear parent rumblings at home and at school drop-offs; a web blog is up and active and many parents have registered for other non GEMS schools for next term/year.
JPS remains one of the most admired schools in the GEMS portfolio and in Dubai, but the school is at a very critical juncture in its evolution and positioning within the community. You have personally stated that GEMS “has a singular, uncompromising commitment to communities, parents and students - to prepare the next generation for the challenges of a brilliant future”.
We urge you to intervene and to cap class sizes to 20 for FS1 - FS2, and to 24 for Years 1–6, through a freeze on new places being offered as well as natural wastage. Thereby, demonstrating your personal commitment to JPS, your willingness to work with the parents to refocus on quality, heal the wounds and putting JPS back on track by keeping the educational as well as the health and safety levels at their excellent best!
We are available for a “Chairman-Parent” meeting at any evening of your convenience in October and look forward to your response
The Parents of JPS
Cc: Arif Naqvi, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Abraaj Capital
Thursday, 15 October, 2008
Sunny Varkey
Founder and Chairman
GEMS Education
Jumeirah Primary School – achieving a brilliant future or sliding into mediocrity
Dear Mr Varkey,
We write to you as protagonists of “for-profit” quality private education, business leaders and foremost as the parent community of the Jumeirah Primary school, JPS.
We fully acknowledge the increasing pressures placed on the school’s economic model, and hence the school’s management, from:
increased operating costs (teacher salaries and accommodation, utilities, rents, ...)
fee caps imposed by the Ministry of Education limiting JPS’s ability to bring fees up to the level of sister GEMS schools in Dubai
intense demand for places at JPS (primarily due to the excellent reputation of the school)
We have however, been greatly disappointed by the way GEMS has implemented the decision to increase class sizes at JPS yet again:
Poor timing – the decision was made during the summer with most parents already committed to another year at JPS
Poor communication – parents only found out about increased class sizes when they walked into class rooms on the first day of school. This has led to an atmosphere of rumours, and further fuelled the perception that Abraaj Capital’s involvement with GEMS will ultimately impact the quality of GEMS education.
Poor subsequent handling – responses to many parent queries over the past few weeks have been impersonal, avoided transparency and assumed that parents would “just fade away”.
Sadly, GEMS has missed a great opportunity to openly share its challenges with a very powerful and influential parent body and harness “parent energy and creativity” to help JPS bridge the period until fees are brought up to the required levels for adequate profitable return.
So we find ourselves in a situation where the trust and goodwill built over years within the adult JPS community has been seriously betrayed and instead that “parent energy and creativity” is now being channelled against the school. Increasingly interactions between staff and parents are becoming bitter and hostile; the children are losing their pride in JPS as they overhear parent rumblings at home and at school drop-offs; a web blog is up and active and many parents have registered for other non GEMS schools for next term/year.
JPS remains one of the most admired schools in the GEMS portfolio and in Dubai, but the school is at a very critical juncture in its evolution and positioning within the community. You have personally stated that GEMS “has a singular, uncompromising commitment to communities, parents and students - to prepare the next generation for the challenges of a brilliant future”.
We urge you to intervene and to cap class sizes to 20 for FS1 - FS2, and to 24 for Years 1–6, through a freeze on new places being offered as well as natural wastage. Thereby, demonstrating your personal commitment to JPS, your willingness to work with the parents to refocus on quality, heal the wounds and putting JPS back on track by keeping the educational as well as the health and safety levels at their excellent best!
We are available for a “Chairman-Parent” meeting at any evening of your convenience in October and look forward to your response
The Parents of JPS
Cc: Arif Naqvi, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Abraaj Capital
Monday, October 13, 2008
A response letter has been drafted to M. Atack's note to the school outlining that 27 is unacceptable and that we want classes capped at 24 for Y1-Y6 and 20 for FS1/FS2. A petition is attached to that letter. For those of you who have not already signed the petition and who would like to, please be on the lookout for the 3 or 4 mums who are standing outside the school at drop off times waiting for your input.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
FYI, Margaret Atack's response to the letter outlining our disatisfaction with capping at 27......
Dear .....
Thank you for your mail.
My apologies for the delay in the response as I was out of the office until today.
I have spoken with Mrs. Curtis today who indicated that the new arrangements for parking/drop of seemed to have a positive effect.
At this point in time I am unable to confirm any further reduction in maximum class size from that identified in the letter of the 25th September. Should there be any further downward movement, either the school or I will let parents know immediately.
Yours Sincerely
Margaret Atack
Dear .....
Thank you for your mail.
My apologies for the delay in the response as I was out of the office until today.
I have spoken with Mrs. Curtis today who indicated that the new arrangements for parking/drop of seemed to have a positive effect.
At this point in time I am unable to confirm any further reduction in maximum class size from that identified in the letter of the 25th September. Should there be any further downward movement, either the school or I will let parents know immediately.
Yours Sincerely
Margaret Atack
Sunday, October 5, 2008
In addition to pressure on GEMS we also need to get the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau involved. They are currently inspecting many English speaking schools and I believe JPS is due later this term. The schools inspected obviously want to be seen to be doing well compared to others. Parent views are collected by the Inspection Bureau as a part of the inspection but we could pre-empt this by informing the Bureau of the situation and our concerns particularly regarding health and safety. How about we send a letter from JPSConcerned Parents?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The letter below was written in response to the GEMS letter we received last Thursday:
Dear Ms Atack,
Many thanks for your prompt response.
Also, thank you for the note that went out from school on Thursday.
We are delighted that Gems recognises the strength of concerns felt by the parent body of JPS and has shown willingness to repsond positively. I think this will help restore faith and trust in Gems. Parents need to know that their collective voice is listened to, responded to, and where reasonable, heeded. So a big thank you for what you have done so far.
The parking measures you have suggested will hopefully help the drop off problems in the morning, so thank you for that initiative. However, the dangers inherent in over-crowding remain at pick up time.
We thank you too for your willingess to reduce class sizes through natural wastage. It is fantastic that you have responded in this way. However, 27 students per class from Years 1 on is still way too many:
1) The academic interests of our children are not adequately served in a class of that size and
2) the over crowding and associated dangers therein -parking and safe movement of children around school -remain.
So we reiterate: we wish you to allow class numbers to fall via natural wastage and a freeze on new places so that numbers are capped at 24.
We would all actually like class sizes capped at 22, but we recognise the environment in which Gems operates and so in the name of compromise we suggest 24.
We look forward to your positive response.
Dear Ms Atack,
Many thanks for your prompt response.
Also, thank you for the note that went out from school on Thursday.
We are delighted that Gems recognises the strength of concerns felt by the parent body of JPS and has shown willingness to repsond positively. I think this will help restore faith and trust in Gems. Parents need to know that their collective voice is listened to, responded to, and where reasonable, heeded. So a big thank you for what you have done so far.
The parking measures you have suggested will hopefully help the drop off problems in the morning, so thank you for that initiative. However, the dangers inherent in over-crowding remain at pick up time.
We thank you too for your willingess to reduce class sizes through natural wastage. It is fantastic that you have responded in this way. However, 27 students per class from Years 1 on is still way too many:
1) The academic interests of our children are not adequately served in a class of that size and
2) the over crowding and associated dangers therein -parking and safe movement of children around school -remain.
So we reiterate: we wish you to allow class numbers to fall via natural wastage and a freeze on new places so that numbers are capped at 24.
We would all actually like class sizes capped at 22, but we recognise the environment in which Gems operates and so in the name of compromise we suggest 24.
We look forward to your positive response.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Dear "Concerned Parents",
Below you will find an article published on Times in 2005. It seems that this is not the first time GEMS is facing angry parents because of class size increases.
We need to put pressure on them in a structured and organized way and it has to media driven.
Please come up with suggestions on how to channel the info between the 200 different families and how to take decisions - Thanks
From The Times
May 25, 2005
Private school parents in revolt
Sunny Varkey promised top quality schools at bargain basement prices, but after four head teachers in a year his first venture has hit troubled waters
By Alexandra Blair, Education Correspondent
THE company that promised to introduce “no frills” private education to England is facing a revolt from parents at the first school that it took over.
Parents of pupils at Bury Lawn school in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, passed a vote of no confidence in Global Enterprise Management Systems (Gems) after the departure of four headteachers within a year.
Hundreds of parents complaining of an “atmosphere of fear” and a collapse in morale will present Gems today with an ultimatum to hand control of Bury Lawn back to the headteacher and demand that they have a say in hiring staff.
Before the action plan had even been submitted, however, parents had received a letter from the company’s lawyers warning them that a meeting on school grounds “without consent is totally irresponsible and will not be tolerated”.
Gems promises “no frills” private education at low prices and with 13 schools is the second largest provider of independent education in the country. Sunny Varkey, the Indian-born chairman, who runs the schools “for profit”, said he aimed to manage 200 schools and has been in talks about investing in two city academies.
Related Links
Education: Independent schools must ignore the government, not parents
Private companies urged to compete with state schools
More choose private education as parents lose faith in state schools
Parents were reassured of Gems “gold standard” with high-profile advisers, such as Sir Gareth Roberts, an education adviser to Tony Blair, Sir Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector of schools and Sir Michael Bichard, who led the Soham inquiry.
Gems schools are day-schools and claim to provide a service like an airline, from “no frills” economy to business class. But with fees of around £6,000 for 5-year-olds at Bury Lawn to just under £10,000 a year at “premium schools” such as Sherfield, they can cost much the same as more prestigious institutions.
Parents say that with 500 pupils from nursery to 18, Bury Lawn was the model school — small, with a family ethos that nurtured its children. But within months of Gems taking over, class sizes had grown from 18 to 24 and they became concerned.
“Bury Lawn school was different, a caring school where each child was treated as an individual. But since July that’s changed, now it’s being run more as a business,” Sue Plummer, mother of Christopher, 14, said. She said her son had grown into a bright outgoing boy, but she claimed that his progress had been hampered after four headteachers and more than a dozen senior staff left in the past year. For the parents the tipping-point came last week, when Mark Olejnik, deputy head for 15 years, was dismissed to be replaced by the fifth head, Dr Sheila Kaye. With a week’s tuition to go, A2 level history students broke down in tears.
Ms Plummer, 43, is now considering removing her son. She said: “We are paying for a service we’re no longer getting. We were told classes would be 15-18 and yet Gems is trying to force 24 into the rooms.” She went on to claim that some children did not have desks or chairs and sometimes had to stand during lessons. Other parents are also considering removing their children. Phil Martin, 32, has three daughters at the school and moved to Milton Keynes because of Bury Lawn.
He alleged that there was an “atmosphere of fear” in the school and, like others, was concerned that the profits were being ploughed into the company and not back into the school.
“Gems is very quick to say they’ve invested £2 million into a new sports hall but now there’s not even enough money to buy a new Hoover,” he said.
Dr Kaye, who has been head for just a week, promised yesterday to meet parents and hear their allegations. No one was available at Gems to comment.
At his suite in the Dorchester hotel, Sunny Varkey told The Times in February, however, that his schools could deliver a good education cheaply by maximising economies of scale.
With 55,000 students and 4,900 staff in 120 countries, he said he was well placed to transfer best practice and dismissed concerns about class sizes. He said: “If a parent has 24 children in a class, he says it’s too much. But we charge less than £5,000. If he really wants 18 or 20 in a class he should send them to Eton for £25,000.”
The Independent Schools Association confirmed that the Independent Schools Inspectorate would investigate “governing and management issues” at the school.
Below you will find an article published on Times in 2005. It seems that this is not the first time GEMS is facing angry parents because of class size increases.
We need to put pressure on them in a structured and organized way and it has to media driven.
Please come up with suggestions on how to channel the info between the 200 different families and how to take decisions - Thanks
From The Times
May 25, 2005
Private school parents in revolt
Sunny Varkey promised top quality schools at bargain basement prices, but after four head teachers in a year his first venture has hit troubled waters
By Alexandra Blair, Education Correspondent
THE company that promised to introduce “no frills” private education to England is facing a revolt from parents at the first school that it took over.
Parents of pupils at Bury Lawn school in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, passed a vote of no confidence in Global Enterprise Management Systems (Gems) after the departure of four headteachers within a year.
Hundreds of parents complaining of an “atmosphere of fear” and a collapse in morale will present Gems today with an ultimatum to hand control of Bury Lawn back to the headteacher and demand that they have a say in hiring staff.
Before the action plan had even been submitted, however, parents had received a letter from the company’s lawyers warning them that a meeting on school grounds “without consent is totally irresponsible and will not be tolerated”.
Gems promises “no frills” private education at low prices and with 13 schools is the second largest provider of independent education in the country. Sunny Varkey, the Indian-born chairman, who runs the schools “for profit”, said he aimed to manage 200 schools and has been in talks about investing in two city academies.
Related Links
Education: Independent schools must ignore the government, not parents
Private companies urged to compete with state schools
More choose private education as parents lose faith in state schools
Parents were reassured of Gems “gold standard” with high-profile advisers, such as Sir Gareth Roberts, an education adviser to Tony Blair, Sir Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector of schools and Sir Michael Bichard, who led the Soham inquiry.
Gems schools are day-schools and claim to provide a service like an airline, from “no frills” economy to business class. But with fees of around £6,000 for 5-year-olds at Bury Lawn to just under £10,000 a year at “premium schools” such as Sherfield, they can cost much the same as more prestigious institutions.
Parents say that with 500 pupils from nursery to 18, Bury Lawn was the model school — small, with a family ethos that nurtured its children. But within months of Gems taking over, class sizes had grown from 18 to 24 and they became concerned.
“Bury Lawn school was different, a caring school where each child was treated as an individual. But since July that’s changed, now it’s being run more as a business,” Sue Plummer, mother of Christopher, 14, said. She said her son had grown into a bright outgoing boy, but she claimed that his progress had been hampered after four headteachers and more than a dozen senior staff left in the past year. For the parents the tipping-point came last week, when Mark Olejnik, deputy head for 15 years, was dismissed to be replaced by the fifth head, Dr Sheila Kaye. With a week’s tuition to go, A2 level history students broke down in tears.
Ms Plummer, 43, is now considering removing her son. She said: “We are paying for a service we’re no longer getting. We were told classes would be 15-18 and yet Gems is trying to force 24 into the rooms.” She went on to claim that some children did not have desks or chairs and sometimes had to stand during lessons. Other parents are also considering removing their children. Phil Martin, 32, has three daughters at the school and moved to Milton Keynes because of Bury Lawn.
He alleged that there was an “atmosphere of fear” in the school and, like others, was concerned that the profits were being ploughed into the company and not back into the school.
“Gems is very quick to say they’ve invested £2 million into a new sports hall but now there’s not even enough money to buy a new Hoover,” he said.
Dr Kaye, who has been head for just a week, promised yesterday to meet parents and hear their allegations. No one was available at Gems to comment.
At his suite in the Dorchester hotel, Sunny Varkey told The Times in February, however, that his schools could deliver a good education cheaply by maximising economies of scale.
With 55,000 students and 4,900 staff in 120 countries, he said he was well placed to transfer best practice and dismissed concerns about class sizes. He said: “If a parent has 24 children in a class, he says it’s too much. But we charge less than £5,000. If he really wants 18 or 20 in a class he should send them to Eton for £25,000.”
The Independent Schools Association confirmed that the Independent Schools Inspectorate would investigate “governing and management issues” at the school.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Dear "Concerned Parents",
The letter received on Thursday is useless and contains no solution to our problems.
There were more than 200 emails sent to JPS and/or GEMS - 200 emails means 200 families. Assuming an average of two children per family, in simple mathematics, we would have a minimum of 400 children representing 40% of JPS' students.
It is time to unite all concerned parents into one organized "Parental Body" represented by one person, preferably a lawyer, taking the following actions:
1- Submitting a formal request to GEMS. The request should include our demands and to some extent solutions to the mess GEMS has created. We need to help them getting out of the "hole".
2- Organizing a petition and sending it to the relevant parties (ie Minister of Education) and following up with them.
3- Check HEALTH ans SAFETY issues and take necessary actions.
4- Contact local and international MEDIA and make sure that they publish our concerns.
5- Contact international private school associations and let them know what is happening in the "GEMS WORLD".
6- Contact educational experts and get advice from them.
7- Check whether we can legally establish an escrow account and have the future term fees blocked until solutions are found.
8- Inform parental bodies of the other GEMS schools as it seems that they are going through the same problems.
GEMS management and shareholders cannot act as they want.
We need to show them that they can have major reputational problems should they not behave in a fair way.
Suggestions on how to have all parents agree to the above are welcome.
How should we communicate together so we can take decisions?
Please come up with suggestions URGENTLTY - we need to take action immediately after EID.
The letter received on Thursday is useless and contains no solution to our problems.
There were more than 200 emails sent to JPS and/or GEMS - 200 emails means 200 families. Assuming an average of two children per family, in simple mathematics, we would have a minimum of 400 children representing 40% of JPS' students.
It is time to unite all concerned parents into one organized "Parental Body" represented by one person, preferably a lawyer, taking the following actions:
1- Submitting a formal request to GEMS. The request should include our demands and to some extent solutions to the mess GEMS has created. We need to help them getting out of the "hole".
2- Organizing a petition and sending it to the relevant parties (ie Minister of Education) and following up with them.
3- Check HEALTH ans SAFETY issues and take necessary actions.
4- Contact local and international MEDIA and make sure that they publish our concerns.
5- Contact international private school associations and let them know what is happening in the "GEMS WORLD".
6- Contact educational experts and get advice from them.
7- Check whether we can legally establish an escrow account and have the future term fees blocked until solutions are found.
8- Inform parental bodies of the other GEMS schools as it seems that they are going through the same problems.
GEMS management and shareholders cannot act as they want.
We need to show them that they can have major reputational problems should they not behave in a fair way.
Suggestions on how to have all parents agree to the above are welcome.
How should we communicate together so we can take decisions?
Please come up with suggestions URGENTLTY - we need to take action immediately after EID.
Whilst everyone has their own individual issues with the school, it is important that we remain united and focused on the main issue. GET CLASS SIZES BACK DOWN TO A MAX OF 25 FOR Y1-Y6.
Diluting the main issue by raising others risks us sounding like a mob and we can lose our credibility.
Let's reiterate. At the moment Y1-Y6 has an average of 26 students per class. We have seen this immediately impact the health and safety of our children within the school and also exacerbate the parking horrors on both sides of the school. Let's not even go into the obvious educational deterioration. Increasing the class size to 27 is totally unacceptable.
We are determined and united and we will not go away.
Diluting the main issue by raising others risks us sounding like a mob and we can lose our credibility.
Let's reiterate. At the moment Y1-Y6 has an average of 26 students per class. We have seen this immediately impact the health and safety of our children within the school and also exacerbate the parking horrors on both sides of the school. Let's not even go into the obvious educational deterioration. Increasing the class size to 27 is totally unacceptable.
We are determined and united and we will not go away.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Our loss of trust and confidence in GEMS has actually been accumulating over the years. The recent issue of class sizes has just bought it all to a head. One would think that the best way to restore trust is to stop lying, show your cards and then move forward with an honest game. But this recent letter from JPS and GEMS head office further adds fuel to the fire.
Why do they have to undermine and belittle our concerns by stating how they understand our concerns of class sizes rising from 25 to 26. (translated: what's all the fuss about). Come on GEMS - another insult to us parents!!! Why talk averages - the point is GEMS put in place a plan to increase numbers to 29 - that's the point - TAKE OWNERSHIP! And then GEMS dilute the issue by finishing the letter off with parking matters.
Furthermore - if we look just a few years away (2005) -class sizes were 22. Then miraculously we all return from the summer break to find they were increased to 25. No announcement made at all!! (More deception - more money grabbing)
And the bus issue - Do GEMS really think that us parents are so naive as to what they are up to........ Every single GEMS parent knows that their pathetic letter was another GEMS LIE. The disgust and distaste towards GEMS regarding the Bus price 100% increase was rampant. (And unfortunately Mel Curtis had to attach her name to the JPS bus letter). I do believe, like every other head of JPS - she is unfortunately just caught up in all the politics. Unwillingly the head teachers (Principles) become GEMS puppets.
Employing new TA's to the school is not going to help our children's education. Most of the time the TA's (and teachers) have to devote a huge amount of time to making the school look 'impressive'. Yes - it's all about impressing us parents and the multitude of visitors. I certainly would rather have mediocre display boards, solely with children's work and more emphasis put into their learning - and I'm sure this is exactly what the teachers and TA's want. (What are GEMS intentions....)
Why do they have to undermine and belittle our concerns by stating how they understand our concerns of class sizes rising from 25 to 26. (translated: what's all the fuss about). Come on GEMS - another insult to us parents!!! Why talk averages - the point is GEMS put in place a plan to increase numbers to 29 - that's the point - TAKE OWNERSHIP! And then GEMS dilute the issue by finishing the letter off with parking matters.
Furthermore - if we look just a few years away (2005) -class sizes were 22. Then miraculously we all return from the summer break to find they were increased to 25. No announcement made at all!! (More deception - more money grabbing)
And the bus issue - Do GEMS really think that us parents are so naive as to what they are up to........ Every single GEMS parent knows that their pathetic letter was another GEMS LIE. The disgust and distaste towards GEMS regarding the Bus price 100% increase was rampant. (And unfortunately Mel Curtis had to attach her name to the JPS bus letter). I do believe, like every other head of JPS - she is unfortunately just caught up in all the politics. Unwillingly the head teachers (Principles) become GEMS puppets.
Employing new TA's to the school is not going to help our children's education. Most of the time the TA's (and teachers) have to devote a huge amount of time to making the school look 'impressive'. Yes - it's all about impressing us parents and the multitude of visitors. I certainly would rather have mediocre display boards, solely with children's work and more emphasis put into their learning - and I'm sure this is exactly what the teachers and TA's want. (What are GEMS intentions....)
I've just read today's letter (25 Sept). It states that the current class size at JPS across Yrs 1 to 6 is 26, 21 students in FS1 and 23 in FS2. This is in doubt, in my opinion. However, assuming the numbers are accurate, the letter states, in the next paragraph, that classes will be limited to 27 across Yrs 1 to 6, 22 in FS1 and FS2.
So, if I am correct in my calculations, JPS' response to our concerns re class sizes (at least across Yrs 1 to 6) is to increase the average to 27???
It is nice to see the parking issue receiving a bit of attention and creative thinking, beyond Mel Curtis ranting in another letter.
A little history lesson can put current events into context:
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidspec11502P/Tuition%20Fee:%20Bearing%20the%20burden%20of%20literacy
So, if I am correct in my calculations, JPS' response to our concerns re class sizes (at least across Yrs 1 to 6) is to increase the average to 27???
It is nice to see the parking issue receiving a bit of attention and creative thinking, beyond Mel Curtis ranting in another letter.
A little history lesson can put current events into context:
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidspec11502P/Tuition%20Fee:%20Bearing%20the%20burden%20of%20literacy
Three weeks ago we sent out an email asking if the increase in class size had been communicated or posted somewhere. After 3 days we received a call from Mr. Chynoweth, who told us that it had not been communicated to the parents but that GEMS had made the decision only at the end of the summer due to 'community pressure.' Furthermore, as an educational expert he assured me that effective teaching can still be guaranteed up to a class size of 30 students....
The letter GEMS sent out to the parents on September 25, stated that concerns have been raised as a result of raising the class size from 25 to 26. This statement is incorrect. Both classes of our sons have 27 students. Moreover, the 'year one class' of our youngest son started with 19 students in September 2007. Compared with his 'year two class' of 27 in September of this year, the class size increased a staggering 42 percent!
GEMS can either choose to continue communicating to us parents like they have done so far - not or incorrectly - or stop the arrogance and start discussing educational and facility improvement options seriously, and try hard to win back some credibility.
I quote from the JPS website..... "Parents receive priority attention in an open and friendly environment that promotes open communication between school, parents and students. Positive and effective interaction between school and home is important to a child’s development and education. We listen to parents, actively inviting them to share their views with us, ensuring that they receive prompt feedback in an appropriate form." Actually, if you continue on the webpage (http://www.jumeirahprimaryschool.com/server.php?show=nav.00m00300b) GEMS proudly states 14 communication options aimed at enhancing and strenghtening parent relations...
The community pressure in the summer months must have been so intense that the abovementioned standards must have been temporarily put on hold. However, by now (after all the dust has settled...) it would be appropriate for GEMS to apologize to us parents for this temporary freeze of communication standards... and live up to the communication standards so proudly presented.
The letter GEMS sent out to the parents on September 25, stated that concerns have been raised as a result of raising the class size from 25 to 26. This statement is incorrect. Both classes of our sons have 27 students. Moreover, the 'year one class' of our youngest son started with 19 students in September 2007. Compared with his 'year two class' of 27 in September of this year, the class size increased a staggering 42 percent!
GEMS can either choose to continue communicating to us parents like they have done so far - not or incorrectly - or stop the arrogance and start discussing educational and facility improvement options seriously, and try hard to win back some credibility.
I quote from the JPS website..... "Parents receive priority attention in an open and friendly environment that promotes open communication between school, parents and students. Positive and effective interaction between school and home is important to a child’s development and education. We listen to parents, actively inviting them to share their views with us, ensuring that they receive prompt feedback in an appropriate form." Actually, if you continue on the webpage (http://www.jumeirahprimaryschool.com/server.php?show=nav.00m00300b) GEMS proudly states 14 communication options aimed at enhancing and strenghtening parent relations...
The community pressure in the summer months must have been so intense that the abovementioned standards must have been temporarily put on hold. However, by now (after all the dust has settled...) it would be appropriate for GEMS to apologize to us parents for this temporary freeze of communication standards... and live up to the communication standards so proudly presented.
I strongly believe that the Executive Principal/CEO of the school, Mel Curtis is directly responsible for this fiasco, so the first solution to all these is to get her to resign immediately from JPS.
During the meeting with parents on Tuesday, 23 Septemebr 2008, she was totally unhelpful and she walked out of the meeting. This type of behaviour should not be tolerated and we cannot allow her to lead the school.
An asian parent recently told us that she had a complain about the school recently and Mel Curtis bluntly told them that they can leave JPS if they are not happy. This is not the kind of behaviour you would expect from the principal of a school.
In her recent letter to parents on 25 September, she claimed that the average number of students has risen from 25 to 26. This is complete rubbish as we know of many classes with 28 students.
Again, this showed her ignorance or she thinks parents are stupid enough to believe her.
With this many additional students, facilities are crammed and play areas are always crowded and toilets are always dirty.
Instead of solving these important issues, she is creating more problems and should be fired immediately.
Can someone suggest how we can get her out???
During the meeting with parents on Tuesday, 23 Septemebr 2008, she was totally unhelpful and she walked out of the meeting. This type of behaviour should not be tolerated and we cannot allow her to lead the school.
An asian parent recently told us that she had a complain about the school recently and Mel Curtis bluntly told them that they can leave JPS if they are not happy. This is not the kind of behaviour you would expect from the principal of a school.
In her recent letter to parents on 25 September, she claimed that the average number of students has risen from 25 to 26. This is complete rubbish as we know of many classes with 28 students.
Again, this showed her ignorance or she thinks parents are stupid enough to believe her.
With this many additional students, facilities are crammed and play areas are always crowded and toilets are always dirty.
Instead of solving these important issues, she is creating more problems and should be fired immediately.
Can someone suggest how we can get her out???
In response to the letter we received today, I am dumbfounded that they think we will accept 27 in the classes!! As to the 'unprecedented demand for school places', why were they not all offered places at the Gems World School which i understand to be empty?
I also note the lack of reference to anything discussed at the meetings other than parking! What about the health and safety issues, lack of facilites and playground etc?
This has further fuelled my anger and disgust and will now be writing to the ministry as well as Gems.
I also note the lack of reference to anything discussed at the meetings other than parking! What about the health and safety issues, lack of facilites and playground etc?
This has further fuelled my anger and disgust and will now be writing to the ministry as well as Gems.
FYI, please find below the mail we wrote on the 7th of Sept:
Dear Mrs. Curtis,
My family has been part of JPS for more than 5 years. My eldest son is now in year 4 and in his sixth year with JPS. My other sons year 2 and FS2 have also both been at the school since FS1. I personally have seen many changes both good and bad over the last nearly 6 years, but on the whole my husband and I were satisfied that we had made a good choice of school for our boys.
Unfortunately, we had a really bad suprise when we arrived at school yesterday. It seemed that nearly all the class sizes have been dramatically increased. I just would like to confirm with you, that JPS always had the policy to have 20 children in FS1, 21 in FS2 and in the other classes 25.
My little one, as I mentioned is in FS2. At the end of June I was told, (and I have it in writing), that 21 children will be in his class. The class list that was posted yesterday had 23 names on it.
I heard that 29 children are now allowed in all the other classes. Is this right? I personally heard about one class in yr 1 with 28 children. At the moment my boy's classes have 25children. I am hoping that it stays like this. For us it is totally unacceptable to have a class with so many children. would have preferred to pay even more fees, but leave the class size as it was.
Another major concern is that good quality teachers will leave the school for others where the class to teacher ratio is better. I have heard that a lot of the teacher staff are also unhappy with this decision.
Furthermore I am very disappointed by the information policy of JPS. The parents are up to now not even officially informed about these big changes. We had already signed up for another year with the knowledge that there would be no dramatic changes. We do not feel as though we were properly treated.
We were always happy with JPS, but I am sure this decision will be backfire on the school. I have never spoken up before on previous issues that I was annoyed by, however this change severely impacts my confidence in the school. There were so many angry parents yesterday and today. Obviously many parents will try to get their children in different schools with smaller classes.
With this decision the reputation of JPS will definitely suffer. We were always proud to be part of the JPS family, but not now after seeing how important decisions are handled within the relation between school and parents.
I eagerly await your response.
Dear Mrs. Curtis,
My family has been part of JPS for more than 5 years. My eldest son is now in year 4 and in his sixth year with JPS. My other sons year 2 and FS2 have also both been at the school since FS1. I personally have seen many changes both good and bad over the last nearly 6 years, but on the whole my husband and I were satisfied that we had made a good choice of school for our boys.
Unfortunately, we had a really bad suprise when we arrived at school yesterday. It seemed that nearly all the class sizes have been dramatically increased. I just would like to confirm with you, that JPS always had the policy to have 20 children in FS1, 21 in FS2 and in the other classes 25.
My little one, as I mentioned is in FS2. At the end of June I was told, (and I have it in writing), that 21 children will be in his class. The class list that was posted yesterday had 23 names on it.
I heard that 29 children are now allowed in all the other classes. Is this right? I personally heard about one class in yr 1 with 28 children. At the moment my boy's classes have 25children. I am hoping that it stays like this. For us it is totally unacceptable to have a class with so many children. would have preferred to pay even more fees, but leave the class size as it was.
Another major concern is that good quality teachers will leave the school for others where the class to teacher ratio is better. I have heard that a lot of the teacher staff are also unhappy with this decision.
Furthermore I am very disappointed by the information policy of JPS. The parents are up to now not even officially informed about these big changes. We had already signed up for another year with the knowledge that there would be no dramatic changes. We do not feel as though we were properly treated.
We were always happy with JPS, but I am sure this decision will be backfire on the school. I have never spoken up before on previous issues that I was annoyed by, however this change severely impacts my confidence in the school. There were so many angry parents yesterday and today. Obviously many parents will try to get their children in different schools with smaller classes.
With this decision the reputation of JPS will definitely suffer. We were always proud to be part of the JPS family, but not now after seeing how important decisions are handled within the relation between school and parents.
I eagerly await your response.
Dear JPS Concerned Parents,
I found it very interesting to hear GEMS senior management, in the mtg with class reps, openly state that it is a commercial organisation. Did they let their guard down?
We all know it is, of course, nobody is stupid enough to believe they are providing a service for community reasons.
They should remember that customer service is an integral and vital element of any money-making operation, and in this area, JPS is sadly lacking. How many of us have been on the receiving end of Mel Curtis' barking? Communication between her and parents can be almost solely summed up by parents receiving letters on car parking woes. It's time for JPS to be creative on this matter! Increasing bus fees by 100%+ is certainly not the way. How about some community spirit by improving Dubai's roads and providing subsidised bussing. No? Oh, sorry, I forgot, it's a commercial operation....
I won't be surprised if the word from Sunny Varkey is "put up or shut up", reinforced by another contract gagging the parents (it happened before in one of GEM's schools in England).
Finally, given the imminent demolition of the old villas and Park and Shop, beware of JPS and JC suffering the same fate. Just a thought.
Keep your options open for your children's schooling.
I found it very interesting to hear GEMS senior management, in the mtg with class reps, openly state that it is a commercial organisation. Did they let their guard down?
We all know it is, of course, nobody is stupid enough to believe they are providing a service for community reasons.
They should remember that customer service is an integral and vital element of any money-making operation, and in this area, JPS is sadly lacking. How many of us have been on the receiving end of Mel Curtis' barking? Communication between her and parents can be almost solely summed up by parents receiving letters on car parking woes. It's time for JPS to be creative on this matter! Increasing bus fees by 100%+ is certainly not the way. How about some community spirit by improving Dubai's roads and providing subsidised bussing. No? Oh, sorry, I forgot, it's a commercial operation....
I won't be surprised if the word from Sunny Varkey is "put up or shut up", reinforced by another contract gagging the parents (it happened before in one of GEM's schools in England).
Finally, given the imminent demolition of the old villas and Park and Shop, beware of JPS and JC suffering the same fate. Just a thought.
Keep your options open for your children's schooling.
As most of you concerned parents of JPS, we have been sending emails to Mrs. Atak for the last weeks and all responses we received were far from constructive.
Besides shallow replies from her secretary:
The 1st one was the famous September 14th letter from Ms. Curtis. No comments. We all agreed it was, if not an insult to us parents, useless.
The 2nd is dated of today from Mrs. Atack herself. Another blabla, empty, pointless one, using averages and, again far from constructive. We do not want averages, we want the excellence in Education our children deserve!
Talking about averages, and referring to the 26 students from Year 1 to Year 6: since some classes have 29 children, what do we have to do to have our children in the lucky-for-the-moment 23-student classes? How can JESS (around the corner) keep up, or should we say, keep down (the number of students per class)?
When, while already enrolled at JPS, our children were accepted at JESS, did we make the wrong choice not moving? Should we go beg now?
When are the lame sentences and empty statements such as "Our commitment and determination to provide high quality education for all children is as high as it has ever been," going to stop. Enough words, we need action.
How logical is it to have 21 – 23 students in FS1 and FS2 with a teacher and a TA and bring these numbers to an "average" of 26 students per class with no TA, when the children stop playing in the sand box and start struggling with spelling, maths etc . . .
Since we are paying these school fees (and very happy to do so, provided the education follows), why do we have to go through hours of daily homework with our children or finance the TA ourselves through a tutor at home?
Finally, and quoting Mr. Varkey in the interview published in The National on July 23rd, 2008: “With Gems we would never say no to anything.”
Well, it is now time to act, if not for the good of our children, for the sake of your education system's future.
Besides shallow replies from her secretary:
The 1st one was the famous September 14th letter from Ms. Curtis. No comments. We all agreed it was, if not an insult to us parents, useless.
The 2nd is dated of today from Mrs. Atack herself. Another blabla, empty, pointless one, using averages and, again far from constructive. We do not want averages, we want the excellence in Education our children deserve!
Talking about averages, and referring to the 26 students from Year 1 to Year 6: since some classes have 29 children, what do we have to do to have our children in the lucky-for-the-moment 23-student classes? How can JESS (around the corner) keep up, or should we say, keep down (the number of students per class)?
When, while already enrolled at JPS, our children were accepted at JESS, did we make the wrong choice not moving? Should we go beg now?
When are the lame sentences and empty statements such as "Our commitment and determination to provide high quality education for all children is as high as it has ever been," going to stop. Enough words, we need action.
How logical is it to have 21 – 23 students in FS1 and FS2 with a teacher and a TA and bring these numbers to an "average" of 26 students per class with no TA, when the children stop playing in the sand box and start struggling with spelling, maths etc . . .
Since we are paying these school fees (and very happy to do so, provided the education follows), why do we have to go through hours of daily homework with our children or finance the TA ourselves through a tutor at home?
Finally, and quoting Mr. Varkey in the interview published in The National on July 23rd, 2008: “With Gems we would never say no to anything.”
Well, it is now time to act, if not for the good of our children, for the sake of your education system's future.
It has become apparent that many parents were unaware of the events that led to the creation of this blog. There are many questions and many feel that they are completely out of the loop. By way of background, it has been requested that any information/emails/letters sent to GEMS or the school, before this week's events, be posted on this blog.
If you would like your letter posted on the blog, please email it to jpsconcernedparents@gmail.com. Please be assured that personal details will be deleted.
If you would like your letter posted on the blog, please email it to jpsconcernedparents@gmail.com. Please be assured that personal details will be deleted.
Hi,
We fully agree with what has been posted through these blogs. The JPS management is behaving in a very autocratic way.
The class size has really come as a shock as it has compromised the quality of teaching. We expect one to one support for our children but poor teachers can hardly do that now.
But the class size is not the only issue; there are problems with the uniform and school buses as well. By the end of last semester the school management unilatererally decided to increase bus fees by 100 %. The management justified this increase by saying that a new company has taken over school transport. In reality, however, it was GEMS who created a company to charge extortionist money from parents. ( Drivers, conductors, buses everything is same…only name has been changed)
All know about school uniform fiasco. Tacky and cheesy clothes with awful tailoring make the uniform of a school, which thinks itself to be the best in UAE!!! Despite promises, the quality of the uniform has not improved...it is even worst. Why can't GEMS have a different supplier? Well, we don't need to hire Sherlock Holmes to find out!
While we are not against school making money to support activities, but this is pure greed.
I feel we should continue to put pressure on the management rather than giving up and taking our children off GPS.
Regards.
We fully agree with what has been posted through these blogs. The JPS management is behaving in a very autocratic way.
The class size has really come as a shock as it has compromised the quality of teaching. We expect one to one support for our children but poor teachers can hardly do that now.
But the class size is not the only issue; there are problems with the uniform and school buses as well. By the end of last semester the school management unilatererally decided to increase bus fees by 100 %. The management justified this increase by saying that a new company has taken over school transport. In reality, however, it was GEMS who created a company to charge extortionist money from parents. ( Drivers, conductors, buses everything is same…only name has been changed)
All know about school uniform fiasco. Tacky and cheesy clothes with awful tailoring make the uniform of a school, which thinks itself to be the best in UAE!!! Despite promises, the quality of the uniform has not improved...it is even worst. Why can't GEMS have a different supplier? Well, we don't need to hire Sherlock Holmes to find out!
While we are not against school making money to support activities, but this is pure greed.
I feel we should continue to put pressure on the management rather than giving up and taking our children off GPS.
Regards.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
My husband and I have made our position quite clear through emails to Margaret Atack and JPS.
In addition I would like to make a few points.
I want to know where the children of those from GEMS present at yesterdays meeting go to school. I am sure that if they had their precious kids at JPS they would not be happy with the current situation…(I wish I had thought to ask this of them at the meeting)
I do truly believe that Mel Curtis is firmly opposed to this and is caught in the middle. Hence the apparent gagging order on her yesterday. I know not everyone is a fan but I think she is doing all that she can on our behalf.
I believe that the next step needs to be media coverage. I think that this needs to go to Gulf News, Khaleej Times, The National etc and perhaps the UK media considering the similar history of a GEMS run school in the UK. If anybody has suitable contacts now is the time to call them in.
In the second meeting yesterday Margaret Atack asked for a show of hands from those that had their children tutored. Apparently approx 60 – 70% raised their hands much to the surprise of GEMS. Perhaps we need to somehow formalize this figure in order to drive home our point.
Many thanks to the blog starters and a huge thank you to Linda for her succinct and eloquent words yesterday.
In addition I would like to make a few points.
I want to know where the children of those from GEMS present at yesterdays meeting go to school. I am sure that if they had their precious kids at JPS they would not be happy with the current situation…(I wish I had thought to ask this of them at the meeting)
I do truly believe that Mel Curtis is firmly opposed to this and is caught in the middle. Hence the apparent gagging order on her yesterday. I know not everyone is a fan but I think she is doing all that she can on our behalf.
I believe that the next step needs to be media coverage. I think that this needs to go to Gulf News, Khaleej Times, The National etc and perhaps the UK media considering the similar history of a GEMS run school in the UK. If anybody has suitable contacts now is the time to call them in.
In the second meeting yesterday Margaret Atack asked for a show of hands from those that had their children tutored. Apparently approx 60 – 70% raised their hands much to the surprise of GEMS. Perhaps we need to somehow formalize this figure in order to drive home our point.
Many thanks to the blog starters and a huge thank you to Linda for her succinct and eloquent words yesterday.
A very dear friend, class mum, is taking her 3 children out of JPS as she was no longer willing to accept the ‘no communication’ policy! This same lady has been an invaluable member of the JPS community for over 5 years as she was always willing to help out when needed, always paid her school fees way in advance! She was never paid for teaching assistance services and most certainly never expected to be paid for it as she was proud to be part of the JPS community. So, an unpaid service and now the school does not even find it appropriate to refund her money despite the fact that Gems broke the ‘contract’ in the first place: never informed the parents or gave a choice(by informing the parents before the summer break)for that matter! Well done, Gems!! Trust Broken! Very disappointed!!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
To all JPS Parents,
Yesterday, the class reps met with representatives from GEMS Education to discuss the unacceptable increase in class sizes (which has already begun without formal notification to the parent body). In fact, there was a second meeting held to accommodate other parents who turned up as well. As most of you are aware, many hundreds of letters were sent to Margaret Atack (Head of International Schools) and numerous parents have met with Mel Curtis and Stephen Chynoweth voicing their outrage at GEMS' new policy.
This is a summary of yesterday's meeting:
1) JPS parents have asked for GEMS, through natural wastage and a freeze on offering new places, to allow class sizes to fall to a maximum of 25 (still too large in our view, but a concession on our part. We would like to see classes capped at 22.)
2) We have asked for interim measures to be taken to improve safety in the parking areas.
3) We have asked for interim measures to be taken within the classes by bringing in extra TA's as soon as is feasible, particularly from year 3 onwards where there is no full-time TA per class.
4) We have asked that GEMS listen to and be accountable and responsive to its stakeholders, and by this I do not mean Abraj Capital, but fee-paying parents and the children whose education we have entrusted to you.
5) Ms Mcphee kindly undertook to present these issues to the Chairman, and you kindly undertook to get back to us via a letter to all JPS parents next Sunday.
To all those concerned parents who would like to contribute to this blog, please email your comments to jpsconcernedparents@gmail.com . Your personal details will not be included.
Yesterday, the class reps met with representatives from GEMS Education to discuss the unacceptable increase in class sizes (which has already begun without formal notification to the parent body). In fact, there was a second meeting held to accommodate other parents who turned up as well. As most of you are aware, many hundreds of letters were sent to Margaret Atack (Head of International Schools) and numerous parents have met with Mel Curtis and Stephen Chynoweth voicing their outrage at GEMS' new policy.
This is a summary of yesterday's meeting:
1) JPS parents have asked for GEMS, through natural wastage and a freeze on offering new places, to allow class sizes to fall to a maximum of 25 (still too large in our view, but a concession on our part. We would like to see classes capped at 22.)
2) We have asked for interim measures to be taken to improve safety in the parking areas.
3) We have asked for interim measures to be taken within the classes by bringing in extra TA's as soon as is feasible, particularly from year 3 onwards where there is no full-time TA per class.
4) We have asked that GEMS listen to and be accountable and responsive to its stakeholders, and by this I do not mean Abraj Capital, but fee-paying parents and the children whose education we have entrusted to you.
5) Ms Mcphee kindly undertook to present these issues to the Chairman, and you kindly undertook to get back to us via a letter to all JPS parents next Sunday.
To all those concerned parents who would like to contribute to this blog, please email your comments to jpsconcernedparents@gmail.com . Your personal details will not be included.
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