The Kindergarten Starters  

The Kindergarten Starters in Dubai

School name	The Kindergarten Starters
Type of institute	private profit-making primary school
Curriculum or Student Nationality	Indian
Qualifications or Courses	CBSE
Head of school	Mr Lawrence William Hartnett (Principal)
Executive body or owner	GEMS Education / Varkey Group
Date founded	1990
Number of students (approx)	4800
Number of staff (approx)
School location/area/map	Garhoud - location map
Postal address	PO Box 4973, Dubai, UAE
Telephone	+971-4-2824090
Fax	+971-4-2825504
Email	registrar@kgs-dxb.sch.ae
Website	www.gemskgs.com
School fees structure	6,075-8,106 dhs per year (2012-2013)
Teacher salary range	2,300 - 3,000 dhs per month (estimate only, not confirmed)
Student satisfaction rating	from 117 votes. TerriblePoor Average Good Excellent
Parent satisfaction rating	from 43 votes. TerriblePoor Average Good Excellent
Teacher job satisfaction rating (by teachers, not about teachers)	from 31 votes. TerriblePoor Average Good Excellent
KHDA school inspection report ratings	2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012   acceptable acceptable acceptable

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The Kindergarten Starters (TKG) tuition fee structure and admission

• 2012-2013 fees - April 2012 fee is AED 630 for KG 1&2, and AED 816 for other classes.
• 2010-2012 annual fees 30% increase permitted by the UAE MOE (10% per year)?
• 2009-2010 fees - April 2009 fee is AED 461 (KG) and AED 578 (grades 1-5). Other months payable monthly from May to March (excluding July and August).
• Registration fee (non-refundable) at time of admission is AED 500 for 2011-2012 (previously AED 100, date of change unknown).

07 June 2012

• Gulf News reported that TKGS fired 2 bus conductors for allegedly molesting a KG1 student. The report quoted an unnamed spokesperson for the school as saying "Parents of a KG student at the Kindergarten Starters School alleged that their child had been molested by two conductors on a school bus yesterday (Tuesday). The school immediately carried out an investigation, and although the findings were inconclusive, the school made the decision to terminate their employment given that child safety and security is our number one priority."
• According to the GN report, the matter has neither been reported to the police nor to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) either by the school or by the parents.
• Several other similar cases in the UAE have gone to court and resulted in acquittal for the accused. The school themselves said "the findings were inconclusive", referring to their own internal investigation. So it's not clear what the school's motivation was in firing the conductors. If the school thought they were guilty, perhaps the school was hoping the conductors would go to another school and molest a child there, get arrested, put in jail, and save TKS the bother of going through that process. Or perhaps the school thought they were innocent but since the conductors didn't pay school fees, firing them had less of a negative financial impact on the school than any alternatives. Media reports did not clarify the school's intentions.
• The Gulf News report quoted one bus conductor as saying "I respect the feelings of the parents but I am very apprehensive now because you never know when the finger of accusation is pointed at you." Perhaps something to keep in mind should you be thinking about applying for a bus driver, conductor, or teacher job at TKS and you're not a child molester. Of course, for parents, the schools attitude is understandably reassuring, given that it appears the school will act quickly and decisively against any staff accused of child molestation.

15 May 2010

• The Kindergarten Starters (TKGS) is apparently increasing school fees for 2010-2011 by 15-20%, or maybe AED 1000 per year. Reportedly approved by the UAE Ministry of Education despite the KHDA fee freeze. See Dubai school fees increase for more details.

05 September 2008

• The Kindergarten Starters (TKS / KGS?) domain www.kgs-dxb.sch.ae forwards to www.gemskgs.com. KGS information also at GEMS Education website (www.gemseducation.com).
• TKS website says founded in 1990 but KHDA information says licensed in November 1982.
• Academic year starts in April.
• Fees payable in 10 monthly instalments. Unclear what fees are for 2008-2009. KHDA information is that TKS requested 45% increase but were ineligible because a 16% increase was already applied for 2007-2008.

07 January 2007

• See also the list of GEMS schools.

Schools in or near Garhoud close to The Kindergarten Starters

Last update 12 May 2012

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