Parents Opt For E-Schooling as 'Challenging Alternative'

By Siham Al NajamiAnd Maysam Ali, Staff Reporters (Courtesy – Gulf News) Published: July 26, 2008, 23:24

Dubai: Online schools are the latest addition to the home schooling option in the UAE. The US-based K12 International Academy, an online school offering courses for students starting kindergarten all the way to Grade 12, recently opened a branch in Dubai's Knowledge Village. Saloni Dewan enrolled her 15-year-old son Partiv in K12's Grade 9 mid-year after she noticed a decline in his performance at school. "E-schooling had been something I had been keen on for a long time, but there was no real support here ... The programme he takes now is intensive and challenging," she said. The advantages of e-schooling, she said, is that her child can receive more attention and take more time to understand the course material. Distracted "Parthiv tends to just get very distracted with the happenings in a regular classroom, and then finds it tough to go back to the task at hand. With e-schooling he can proceed at his own pace, although there are stringent deadlines." "There are many reasons why a child won't fit into a normal environment," said Sara Sayed, the Head of the School and regional representative in the Middle East. "Children with learning problems, special talents and needs or those who require more time and attention will find this a good learning technique," she added. Perhaps the academic routine in Parthiv's life has not changed, but the social aspect certainly has. "I do feel at times that he is missing out on making friends. He has a few friends here whom he catches up with over the weekends," Saloni said. Sayed said online schooling should not be a reason for introversion. To ensure the students meet other students and make new friends, the academy organises various social activities. "Students make friends all over the world and from various emirates in the UAE, both online and when they meet," she said. Parthiv said he studies an average of five hours a day covering around six subjects in the academic year. "At times I prefer going to normal schools to make friends, but I don't get bored while studying this way because there is a lot of animation in the programmes. It's like chatting with the teacher while studying online," he said. Parents play the role of learning coaches and they are guided by certified tutors from the academy. Educators at the academy stress the role of the parents in this process. "This is for parents who want to and have the time, patience and willingness to get engaged with the students' learning." Cost: Fees up toDh25,600 K12 International Academy tuition fee from kindergarten to Grade 8 is Dh18,300 and Dh25,600 for Grades 9-12, per academic year. Home schooling based on Ministry of Education Curriculum costs Dh150 (for books). Fees in Asian schools: estimated between Dh1,800 and Dh5,500. Fees in Arabic private schools: Dh4,000 to Dh15,000. Fees in international private schools: From Dh8,00 and could reach more than Dh70,000. (Courtesy – Gulf News)