School fees increase in Dubai

[GMDS]

why do they need to increase the school allowance at all?

Because nothing else (at least that I know of) increased prices at the moment.
Foodstuff is declining, rents are declining, club participations are declining, electronics are declining, cars get a lot cheaper, many very cheap offers on hotels, restaurants, clothes and other commodities.
Of the real big loads on the wallet of Dubai residents, there is only the greed of the schools remaining. General increase of a minimum of 8% to a maximum of 20% are sanctioned by the KHDA. Additionally the transport companies have been outsources, with increases as a sanctioned consequence of up to 100%!!

So much for sharing the burden in this crisis. They always take it from those who are more stuck, due to their kids.

By the way: We are also much more stuck with vacation and annual leave + tickets, because everyone has to stick to the same school holiday dates. Very conveniently all the holiday resorts, hotels and other holiday providers increase their fees for that season, because they know that aswell! Off season, for all DINKs, prices are a lot cheaper. Now how's that for fairness. ( -> if I want my share of these offers as well, I only get a big laugh ... )

I therefore understand the request to compensate for the only increase of cost of living in Dubai, especially when, as you point out, there has been no raise or bonus and the overtime taken away.
For a family with two kids, such increase amounts to approximately AED 10000 to 15000.
But I guess it was their choice, so it should remain their problem.
Fairness, burden sharing and solidarity only goes along until it hits yourself, I guess.

Forgive me my sarcasm. But keep in mind one thing: Those who have kids have spent some time without. They remember how it was!! We would never give them back, but believe me, WE KNOW IT COSTS MORE.
If a greedy company like EK would think it is cheaper to have only pilots without kids, they would go down that road. But even considering how difficult it must be for them to overcome their greed, they opted to have a healthy mix. So there must be a reason. The reason is that if there were only pilots without kids, they would not pay them one dirham more than today, so it would be cheaper, but they would have a much higher fluctuation and other problems. So they realised that by compensating the cost of living for families, as it is done in more established civilisations, they actually have a operation that runs smoother.

Just the next quote shows that you didn't understand one bit of the argument we try to make:

... and benefits you to the exclusion of others

1) Once more: We do not benefit of such contributions, we even have to up them and end up with less in our pocketrs than you.
2) You are not excluded from such contributions. You will only benefit from them later in your life.

I always thought pilots were assessed for their ability to look ahead and to keep in mind the bigger picture.
Apparently not all of them.

[White Knight]

I stand by the term that I used - that of 'tosser'... I'm not calling anyone names - just describing their rather simplistic approach to schooling allowance..

I really can't understand you types WHO KNEW THE PACKAGE before you signed on the dotted line and then moan and bitch about seeming differences later.. Was it really supposed to be lighthearted and a hilarious comment????? Hell, when I was first here as F/O I spent 2 months out of my annual salary on school fees - not that I've complained about it. Then again I knew the deal before I got here.. I am not looking for any sympathy BL, certainly not yours

Oh well - at least my rugrats will be able to help me with my wheelchair when I'm older

[Mullah Kintyre]

I stand by the term that I used - that of 'tosser'... I'm not calling anyone names

Sorry but that is the comment of a tosser.

Despite what you seem to think, it's actually fairly obvious BL knows what he's saying. He knew the deal when he came here (White Knight's moan is a predictable and frequently-used cry by those with no real argument) and is simply pointing out a fact:

If you have kids, you get more cash out of the company than if you do not.

Why is this so hard to understand?

No one is saying anything about whether it not being in the contract or he didn't know about it or the children are our future or they're not or whether civilised society should be maintained or we should be taxed or any of the other extraneous sh!t being posted here. Certainly. no one is casting aspersions on your decisions to be a parent. Jesus Christ, will you get over it???

He's saying one thing: He doesn't get the extra dough so he doesn't care about your moaning. Can this be made any simpler???

I swear, some of the pilots in this company are so f***ing thick.

[GMDS]

He's saying one thing: He doesn't get the extra dough so he doesn't care about your moaning. Can this be made any simpler???

And we are saying the other thing: No matter how badly you moan about the fact that the company gives a little more to those with kids, you would NEVER get even the slightest part of it even if suddenly no kids were around!! So why the heck should you complain if others get it, just to give them a almost even lifestyle?
Can none of your business, or uncontained envy be demonstrated any simpler??

I swear, some of the pilots in this company are so f***ing thin.

Greed (... you get more cash out of the company) supersedes common sense and common goals. At least they fit in well into the local mentality.

[GMDS]

Mullah

Your next step is to re-read of BL's post and see if he's really asking for more money or simply taking the piss, quite successfully, out of guys like you and White Nut!

Well, I did, and surprise, surprise:

There should be a totty chasing allowance and Bachelor gadget allowance to compensate. Its competitive out there

But i will calm down and leave it at that. Maybe we get excited too much, you're right.

[sheikhmahandy]

Divide and conquer

Hey boys and girls, it seems we should have constructive discusion on this subject, instead of allowing the company to divide and conquer. Hi Ho

[yada.yada.yada]

I don't know. With all the money they have been grabbing back, what makes you think they are going to increase anything?

[flareflyer]

Did anybody at WIS already may the 500 aed required by the letter?

[Trader]

It is illegal for a school to require any form of payment prior to the school year. this is a new KHDA regulation. I believe the only pre payment that is permitted is a bond. Fees themselves are no longer allowed to be collected ahead of the school year.

[fatbus]

Its not required. You get a discount if you pay early

[h3dxb]

Bin Liner

Don't drink and write

[mini cooper]

Schooling is a lottery, if you hadn't gathered that already!!
What you desire is not what you necessarily get ie you may want to get the kids into an English curriculum school just around the corner, but because there are no spaces available you may end up having one kid in an English school 20mins away in one direction and the other in another school 30 mins away in totally the opposite direction!! If you take the kids to school you or your wife will put a lot of mileage on your car. You also have to be aware that the level of driving in Dubai is awful and so the roads are quite dangerous. You could use school buses but then you are putting your child's life in someone elses hands, wait until you see the buses and the drivers!!!

You don't say same whether you want English, US, Indian or International schooling. The quality varies between schools and you have to find out about individual schools when you are here.
Then of course you won't know yet where you will be living so that also affects which schools are near you.

The short answer therefore is wait until you are here and deal with it then, there are schools here and the kids will get in somewhere!! You will have enough things to worry about just getting here, getting into accommodation, setting up things for wife and kids ie residence visas and all that is on top of doing the job!!

As a general word of advice before you get here, don't expect too much, remember that you are the hired help, don't totally cut your ties back home as you may want to go back sooner than you think,contracts mean nothing so keep a copy as a reminder of what was supposed to be, stay flexible and finally if the wife is happy then you will be, if she isn't then life will be horrible and don't expect the money to go very far, it goes quick!