Schools in the UAE were criticized for being rude and for failing in their responsibilities to transfer manners to students and keep them informed. When the author's organization tried to provide information to schools about overseas education opportunities, one school refused and shouted at their representative. Additionally, some schools take students on unsupervised trips to shopping malls multiple times a year instead of educational outings that would complement their learning. The author seeks opinions on these issues.

1. I dont want to sound so presumptions, I think that some schools in the UAE are very rude. The main
thing about the schools is to transfer manners to our children. Of course this will only happen if the
school has that culture instilled in it. Also, on another level, schools have the responsibility in informing
the students about everything, keeping them abreast on what is available out there. So these two levels
were violated today.
We were distributing some information to some schools in Dubai, one of these schools' rep ( and by the
way this one considers itself the beacon of education in the world) refused to take the information and
shouted at our rep saying that they have their own information to provide to the students and they dont
want to take our information. They had forgotten that we make it our responsibility to find the best of
breed in overseas knowledge, and tire ourselves in travelling to outer bounds to find the best to bring to
our students. We do not want our students to hunt on the internet and then end up in places that are
shacks and then have to forfeit the fees that they paid and of course more importantly lose that time
that they had spent in learning and find out that the certificate is not acceptable. There are many ways
to ensure that overseas institutions are accredited and safe, and this is our responsibility to find this
information. Besides, we have built our business to complement the school system and till date the
schools reject this, and find us interfering, I need to know why?
This story reminded me of two things. I am sure you will find them Very interesting.
When we first started our work, we sent faxes to all the schools to let them know that we are here and
we are ready to help their students, and if possible a meeting can be arranged. Funny that none of the
schools have answered us, except one who had actually phoned and started a lecture on why we dare to
send a fax to them, and how rude are we in assuming that the school is ready to let us through its gate,
and we should have contacted the ministry first to take permission to send a fax to them bla bla bla. I
am not going to say what else the principal had said, suffice to end this first story by saying that we
would have been in jail now! as we had committed a crime by interfering in the school life.
The second story which is more interesting is that I had gone to a café in a mall, to buy my coffee. I see
many students around the cashier buying their frappochino; so as usual, and being friendly, I talked to
them and we laughed, and talked more for almost an hour. Guess what they were doing there? it was
their student day out, which they do 4 times a year! And every one of those times it will be in a shopping
centre. 14-15 year old girls on their own in a shopping mall, doing nothing the whole day! Is this
acceptable? And do we think that their trip is going to teach them how to buy stuff or merchandising?
Or how to start a business? No, they had no goal, and they are not required to produce a report on their
trip either. So rather than take them to a place that will enhance their knowledge and complement the
school work, they are left in a mall feeling totally lost that they grab a friendly stranger like me to talk to.

2. I need your opinion please. if there is someone reading my blogs, I need to know what you think.