Raffles International Schools

[shawarma]

Raffles International School - DubaiFAQs information

Raffles International Schools will be in 3 locations from Sep 2007, operated by Emaar Properties PJSC (renamed as Emaar PJSC in March 2007?) - a Dubai based company listed on the Dubai Financial Market stockmarket.

Umm Suqueim North
Umm Suqueim South
Umm Suqueim West

More schools expected to open in the future. A press release from Emaar Education (04 April 2007), a subsidiary of Emaar Properties, said...

• Emaar Education student registration for the 3 Dubai Raffles International Schools will start on April 8, 2007, at Hayya! Meadows Village in The Meadows. Initially for kindergarten to grade 8 students, all nationalities.
• Admission by interview and tests in English and Mathematics.
• All 3 schools are licensed by the Knowledge & Human Development Authority Dubai (KHDA)
• All 3 schools are in Umm Suqeim (near the Burj Al Arab / Souk Madinat) and will open in September 2007.
• Instruction is in English but second languages available will include Arabic, French, Hindi and Mandarin
• Additional facilities include modern laboratories, swimming pools, tennis courts, soccer grounds, dance studios and other sports and recreation facilities.
• Head of Raffles International Schools in Dubai is Mrs Anna Kizirian.
• Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Education is Mr Boon Yew Ng.
• Curriculum in 3 streams, leading to International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), American High School Diploma, and the Cambridge University International General Certificate of Education - Advanced Level (A-Level).
• Raffles International School in Dubai will follow the Singapore model which delivers an "integrated campus", an all-round development of the students with a balanced focus on academic courses, personality development, sports and cultural activities, blah blah blah...
• Emaar will open 2 more schools in Al Barsha. There are also 4 nurseries and kindergartens in The Springs, The Lakes and Emirates Hills.
• Emaar also opened the Emaar Raffles International School (ERIS) in Singapore in 2007, after acquiring the Singapore based company Raffles Campus.
• Further afield, Emaar has plans to open educational institutions in the the Middle East and North Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and East Asia.

[shawarma]

Raffles International School has a few problems - there was a report in the Gulf News today (07 October 2008). The head, Anna Kizirian has been fired according to a statement from Emaar Education, and there was a gathering of about 100 parents yesterday, complaining about the poor facilities at the new school, lack of supplies, poor standards of cleanliness, and teacher shortages. Originally, Emaar said three campuses would open in September 2007 but it appears only one did, the Umm Suquiem South Campus, and a second, the Umm Suqeim West Campus, opened in early 2008. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is apparently sending out a team of inspectors to investigate the concerns, but they said they had not received any complaints themselves.

"Raffles International School in Dubai, owned and managed by Emaar Education, has stopped the services of its Head of School Anna Kizirian. A decision, with immediate effect, has been taken by the Board of Directors of Emaar Education. Zeba Khan, Deputy Principal, Junior School, South Campus, has assumed temporary additional charge of the campus. The departure of Anna Kizirian does not have any bearing on the day-to-day operations of the school, and parents of the students in the school have been informed of the decision. Raffles International School management had also met with those parents who approached them, and the school continues to function normally,"

Some of the statements from parents that were reported by Gulf News:

One UAE National parent defended the head, saying, "I joined the school for the prestigious reputation of Anna and if she is fired I will definitely pull out my children." ...

... "The toilets are absolutely disgusting and almost zero outdoor facilities," said one parent.

And the school was reported as saying:

"The school has contracted teachers internationally. While most of them have joined us, a few others will take charge shortly. Equipment and study materials are also sourced internationally, and most of these have now been received. Operational aspects pointed out by parents and teachers regarding toilets, lockers and the swimming pool are also being addressed."

So what's it really like at the Emaar Raffles School in Dubai? Any comments from students, teachers or parents? Fire away ...

[johnhickson]

I am a parent who had a first hand experience with the school... My advice is stay as far away as possible. I would not want to send my kids to this school if it was the last school on this planet... The way they manage the school is appalling ... Having one hot-headed parent complaining is one thing... but having a hundred is another.... Just try and ring the school to speak with the registrar, principal or anyone higher up... You will get a default response that they are in a meeting.... They probably are considering even the top man of the company has to become a private investigator cum lawyer.... A long story...

[lindsay]

Wow! And considering I was considering applying to work there. Thank you! I really don't want to spend another two years working in a crap school.

[rashed]

when I enrolled my child into that school, I have been tolled that it will become IB the year after, now, two years later and no sign of IB approval. I belive it is time to pull him out. The teachers over there are not up to the standard. some of them are sacked from other schools.
I had also witnessed a teacher picking and bullying on a student. His behaviour was extremlly visious, he throws the boys books on Purpose on the floor and ask him to pick it up in mens of insulting him further, in another incident he call him names and allow other alder student to slap him on the face , when the littel boy started to cry, the clever teacher put him into detention. I had witnessed that.I saw the boy's tears and all his boady shaken from fear.When I approached the parents and told them what I saw from that teacher . He continiously insulting their child infront of other studends and parents as me, by the way the boy is around 8 years , his parents told me that they are aware and had complained to the Head of School, but no action against that teacher to stop his outrageous behaviour was taken. Teachers there are like wild elephants ,they think no one can stop them, and I do belive that the CEO have no control or authority what so ever. They are busy counting money , and making property investments. SHAME ON RAFFLES. parents put their preious children in schools with sky high fees thinking they are doin good to their kids. apparently they have to spend another double on child psychiatrists.

[cheryp]

Well, it was on the website that Raffles is now a candidate school for the IBPYP and Diploma Program.

[greatteacher]

Do not work for this school. I made the mistake of accepting a post for this school and stupidly I agreed to book the flight myself. So I did...then the day before I was due to fly out to start for this school they sent me an email to say they had 'withdrawn' their contract. They haven't paid me for the flight or any compensation for loss of earnings. This school is a joke! What sort of school treats their employees this way? I would hate to think how they treat their children and parents. I doubt there will be enough teachers to teach the children in the school as they are cutting costs by cancelling my contract.

[rashed]

candidate! ( dose not mean they got the IB cerification) they have to wiat till they work out these issues..

Well, it was on the website that Raffles is now a candidate school for the IBPYP and Diploma Program.

[mumtazkadiri]

As a student of Raffles International School, I appreciate the professionalism and excellent management skills of Mrs. Anna Kizirian and her willingness to educate us. Thank you Mrs. Anna for all your efforts.

[rashed]

Listen to the latest news, after alshinnar ( previous CEO of the school) resignation last year, he LAUNCHED a new prestegous school, he now is doing a great job advertising for it, contacting most of the parent and arranging gatherings where he is presenting his school , seems its a good business what I heared from a school source is that the new school board who are taking over the management are cutting in cost ( canteen will be outsourced, teachers salarys, and 25 to 30 student in class instead of currently Max 15-18 student). by the way the new management of the school are the same of that American school in Medows they took an avarage ACCEPTABLE in their KDHA evelauations.