Dubai school rejects bug-bite complaint as fictional bugbear

The parent of a student attending an Indian curriculum school in Dubai has complained that the campus is infested with pests after her daughter returned home last Thursday with swollen eye and hands.

The mother noted that the child had to be rushed to emergency to treat insect bites that evening.

“My child was prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication immediately,” said Saba Kaipa, adding that the doctor had advised to keep a close watch on the child.

She had to return to the hospital the next day as her child woke up with a “bigger swollen red eye”.

Saba wrote a formal complaint to the principal on Sunday, a copy of which she e-mailed to Emirates24|7, informing about the trauma she endured, and criticising what she says is a complete disregard to hygiene and cleanliness on the school campus.

“I spent Dh1,100 in just two days and went through mental stress over my child’s health.”

She told Emirates24|7 that the doctor confirmed it was a bug bite. “My daughter also told me that she had seen cockroaches and big black ants in her classroom.”

Saba added that even other parents confirmed about similar sightings. “Upon sharing my experience with other mothers… a lot of children testified that they had also seen red ants, bugs, cockroaches inside the classroom”.

She even shared mobile communication with other parents, who reported spotting of cockroaches in the classroom.

After Saba filed the complaint, she was called in for a meeting with the school officials. “They denied there was an issue, and were very defensive and aggressive at first.

“Later they showed me earlier ‘pest control’ documents. And, those papers clearly show that the place is infested. Although I asked them to send me a copy, they haven’t done it. And, I’m sure they won’t,” she said, adding, “This means that mine isn’t the first such complaint.”

The parent also contacted the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), who had sent a team to check the area.

“I have decided to keep my child at home until they carry out a pest control and show me documents to confirm they did,” she asserted.

The parent added that the “pest menace” is just one of many reasons why she has decided to pull her child out of the school. “My child has only three more weeks left in this school. But, I decided to highlight this problem because it concerns the safety of the every child studying there.”

When Emirates24|7 contacted the school, which is rated ‘acceptable’ by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB), the principal was unavailable for comment.

Later, a senior school official named Kamal, called to inform that “there is no issue” at hand.

“The child left the school at 2pm on Thursday (June 5) and the child didn’t show any signs,” he insisted. “We don’t know what could’ve happened later. It’s unfortunate the child had to be taken to emergency.

“We are certain there are no bugs in the classrooms. We had conducted a pest control in March, which is the end of the academic year for Indian curriculum, and, again in April, which is the beginning of the term.”

He added that the parent has made “baseless allegations” and even hinted that the child may not have communicated correctly to the parent. “Often there have been cases when a child doesn’t talk properly to their parent, but opens up to our counsellors.”

He even suggested that part of the problem lied in the fact that the parent was taking her child to another school. “We are already in talks with her over the fee refund, and we have told her that we can only do what is determined by the KHDA fee framework.”

Even the way the parent highlighted the problem was criticised. “She took to social media even before approaching us. Even then, we decided not to make it a big issue. We invited the parent to the school and listened to her grievances.”

The official added that the school has decided to conduct a fresh round of pest control, even though they are confident their campus is bug-free. “We are doing this only for the parent. As a school rated ‘outstanding’ in health and safety by the KHDA, we are willing to go to any extent to ensure the parents are happy.

“After all, the backbone of any good educational institution depends on good parent-school association.”

He added that the school will not refund the medical bills because they “are not responsible for it”.

He stated that the school had not received any reports of bug bites or cockroach-sightings until then.

lThe pest control will be carried out in the school this weekend, he clarified.

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