FarFromHome
Thanks for the informative post. Been away on leave so only just got back to it.
I agree with you on the questionable quality of education from some of the schools. Very average is my experience. While some claim stunning success rates this is not hard to do when you can skim the best and discard the rest as appears to be happening.
Besides exam pass rates are not everything. The concept of an all round education is often missing. The schools are not a patch on what is available at half the price in other countries.
Most extra curricular activities are the responsibility of the parents to source and fund (at huge expense) leaving mothers with the task of serious transport commitments every week. (Very undesirable on Dubai's roads)
Another consideration is the possibility of not being eligible for university grants back home when the child has not been in the home system.
For all these reasons sending the family home or leaving Dubai entirely is a very serious consideration.