High absenteeism expected in UAE schools after summer break due to expats saving on airfare

DUBAI: Schools across the UAE are set to reopen on Monday, August 26, after a two-month summer vacation. However, in the first week back, many principals anticipate that absenteeism will range from 15 to 25 per cent. This trend is attributed to expatriate families trying to save on airfare by delaying their return to the UAE.

Expatriates often face significantly higher travel costs during peak seasons, with airfares more than doubling as they return to the UAE after vacation. Airlines hike prices without hesitation, knowing that many expats have to return to their workplaces. As a result, numerous families delay their travel plans to reduce expenses, leading to lower student attendance in the initial weeks of school.

Abilasha Singh, principal of Shining Star International School, confirmed that low attendance in the first week of school is a common issue in the UAE, especially in schools following the Indian curriculum. The main reason, she noted, is the high cost of flights.

"Despite instructing students to be present on the first day after the summer break and emphasizing the importance of school attendance for academic performance, we see a regular pattern of absenteeism. This is particularly prevalent among expatriate families from lower-middle-income backgrounds who try to save on travel costs. Typically, we see only about 75 per cent attendance in the first week of school reopening in August," Singh said.

Parents also have their reasons for this trend. Amy Rasheed, a Malayali expatriate, explained her family's strategy to save on airfare. "We plan to return by the end of August or within a week after school opens. My husband had to return to work on the 4th of this month but my children and I will travel to the UAE later. He will book our tickets once he is back in Dubai," she shared.