From: Parents of Repton School Abu Dhabi

5th April, 2020

To: The Management

Repton School Abu Dhabi - Fee Reduction for Term 3

Dear Sir/Madam

In light of the existing situation, we, parents of Repton School, appreciate the Institutions' continuous support and back the decision of the school's closure for the safety of its students. However, we feel that it is unjustified that Repton is demanding a full fee payment for the Third Terms 'Distance Learning Programme.'

It is important to address that the online learning platform is not an alternative to classroom based learning but rather a temporary measure to address e learning. Other schools that Repton compare themselves to have at least an hour each day of actual live learning via zoom, no such facility has been provided for the Repton students. Parents are having to put in more than 5-7 hours a day, assisting children to complete the daily assigned lessons, provide resources, stationary, technology, not to mention the added mental strain and pressure of working from home simultaneously.

Moreover, keeping the current situation in mind, the government has clearly created policies in place which gives the employers a choice to reduce the salaries appropriately. Whilst we appreciate the school's decision to pay its staff in full, we also firmly believe that this is purely an employer's decision and responsibility and that the financial implications of this decision must not be passed on to the parents.

in addition to this, the children are not attending school for the entire term, neither using the premises, utilities, facilities nor all extracurricular activities which are now closed for the entire semester thus reducing the school's costs.

We also believe that Reptons' current offer of a Relief Fund Package is unreasonable, and cannot be subjected to just a handful of families, as all parents across the board are affected.

Over the course of the last few weeks, we have seen businesses and companies suffer, families across the city taking the brunt of this situation- most employees are being laid off, forced to take unpaid leave or are facing up to 30% pay cuts. Most businesses are struggling and commercial activity has now come to a complete halt. These are severely difficult times for all of us.

Considering these prevailing conditions, many schools across the emirates are supporting the parents and have announced reduction in fees.

As prominent education providers, we expect Repton to lead the way by example and therefore, we collectively appeal to Repton School for a minimum 40% reduction in fees for the third term 'e - learning programme'. For those parents that have already paid we request their payments to be adjusted against the next upcoming semester.

These are difficult times for all of us, and we hope Repton will play its part in supporting the parents.

Yours faithfully

Parents of Repton School, Abu Dhabi