In comparing the two reports in The National (UAE) on April 1st, ‘Indian School Crisis’ and ‘High Profit options dominate school openings’, it is not surprising that parents become frustrated at the perceived failure to provide affordable school places at the expense of investors making large profits. However, the truth is often different. Opening a new school is not without risk or the investment of large sums of money, and often with little sign of breaking even and recouping the cost of the original building works for several years. The local regulators are very good at controlling fee rates and reducing profiteering. However, the fault often lies in the advice and guidance being provided to potential investors with the mantra ‘the higher the fee, the quicker the investment return’ often and mistakenly being the default advice. Investors are not educationalists but need educational advice on how best to harness new technology and to consider different ways of organising schools to deliver a curriculum that brings greater efficiency to the school without compromising quality. My advice to investors is to ask those in the profession who are designing schools and improving teaching systems all the time. If they did, maybe the current crisis could be resolved and still with a reasonable return on investment.

 

Paul Wagstaff (Education Director)
The National (UAE) 4th April 2013