Reluctant to send kids abroad, parents turn to local varsities
dubai — With the current Covid-19 pandemic, UAE parents and prospective international students are now considering options for higher education within the country.
Many top foreign universities have already announced that if public health officials deem it unsafe for students to congregate, live classes may not resume until January 2021.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, parents and students shared their thoughts on why studying abroad doesn’t appear to be a good option this year.
UAE resident Manisha Bhatia feels the Covid-19 situation has changed the way people perceive things. Even higher education in foreign universities seems less attractive to families, given the health scare.
“My son is in Grade 12 in an Indian school and, earlier, we wanted him to go abroad and study which he still wants. But as a mother, I am keen that he continues studying in the UAE, while staying at home with us,” she said.
“All the news of stranded students and worried parents really bother me and nobody wants to be caught in such a situation.”
Parents do not want a gap year
Similarly, Madhulika Chatterjee said they wouldn’t want her son to miss one school year because of the flight suspensions and the pandemic situation.
“We are still thinking about the whole admission process but, if required, we will have to look at university options here, especially if the flights and the countries don’t open up as much. We wouldn’t want our child to be sitting at home for a full year” said Chatterjee, whose son is in Year 13 at Jumeirah College Dubai.
Tunisian resident Basma Buazzi, whose elder daughter is a student of American University of Ras Al Khaimah, said that even for her son, local universities are the only option.
“The Covid-19 scare is here to stay for a while. Who knows whether there would be a second wave of the virus or not? I am not sending my son to my home country, Tunisia, to study. He will study here,” Buazzi said.
A Grade 13 student of Al Diyafah High School, Michael Gonsalves, is convinced that he doesn’t have to travel abroad to get a good education.
“Some of the universities in the UAE are really good. I therefore wish to study in the UAE. All I need to explore are universities offering good discounts or scholarships,” Gonsalves said.