UAE Schools Struggle with Admissions Surge as Indian Families Return After Covid

UAE Indian Schools See Admission Surge Amid Limited Seats and Rising Demand

Sharjah: Two months into the new school year, Indian schools in the United Arab Emirates continue to receive a large number of admissions requests, especially from families returning to the Gulf region after returning to India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The consistent demand for places has not abated since the start of the academic year in early April. Families transferring their children from the Kerala state curriculum to the CBSE curriculum have been submitting a significant number of applications. The trend is particularly common among Malayali families who want to help their children transition more smoothly to the Indian education system in the UAE.

With many families with young children returning to the country, most of the admission requests are for lower grades, especially kindergarten to grade 3. However, according to school officials, capacity constraints and Ministry of Education regulations are a significant barrier to seat availability.

The situation is most noticeable in places like Abu Dhabi, where demand has increased for grades 1 and 2 admissions. As a result of the post-pandemic economic recovery, many expatriates have been encouraged to rejoin their families in the UAE, including increased investments, infrastructure development and new job opportunities.

Many candidates are placed on waiting lists because schools are rigidly adhering to ministry regulations when it comes to admissions, despite the great enthusiasm. The ongoing demand demonstrates the rising trust in the UAE’s educational system as well as the return of Indian expatriate families looking to provide their kids with a stable and high-quality education.