About 5,000 students will be affected as it faces closure in 2014
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Students and the Westminster School Dubai fraternity have taken up their fight for survival very seriously on networking website Twitter.
The school is facing closure in 2014, with the future of close to 5,000 Dubai students hanging in a limbo.
The students have launched a Twitition, or a petition on Twitter, which had generated 82 support signatures at the time of filing this report. You can check out the Twition here [http://twitition.com/hiq4n].
"The Westminster school is closing in 2014! We want to #Save Our School and #KeepTWS !" says the Twitition.
Numerous tweets have poured in support of the cause, with a bunch of students quickly creating a Twitter account (@official_TWS), managing 350 or so followers in no time, and the hashtag #keeptws generating a flood of responses from parents, students and other general UAE residents.
"Yes, there is a lot happening on Twitter. We want to garner as much support as possible," said a high-school student without wishing to be named.
"woah. so proud of us westmins. 400+ ipetitions, 60+ twititions & 100+ written petitions in less than 4 days," elaborates a Tweet.
The Westminster School twitter family has asked its followers to keep the faith as nothing is impossible.
With 347 followers - and counting - the growing community is now planning their course of action on Twitter. "It'd be better if you wait, once we plan on doing anything in school we'll get back to all of you. Don't worry," reads another tweet.
"why is the school shutting down &for next year no registrations? I'm sad to say this is devastating to everyone," tweeted a concerned Fatima jabber (@liibyaaa).
In response, another tweet talks about peaceful demonstration to drive their point home. "official_TWS ppl who are in, we will have a protest with no shouting none of that all we do is just make a few poster and stand," adds another tweet.
"No no no, we don't want any gatherings or protests like I've mentioned. any problems will be a huge downfall to our cause," mentioned another tweet.
The tweets also make it clear that the students are in talks with the media to spread the news.
"Even the ex-Westminsterians are giving out a helping hand. Truly, "One big family". #KeepTWS" reads another tweet by the students.
As Twitter users are contemplating their next course action, their Facebook page is also ready to support their cause. However, one member trying to find the cause leading to closure remains unanswered on the social networking website.
The community has even taken to Dubizzle with a link to their Facebook page.
This week, the school management cited financial difficulties in running the school. An emailed circular sent to parents by the education provider stated that over the past five years, the average fee increase in the school works out to just Dh167 per year. That equates to around Dh13 a month, it adds, and that for two of the past five years, there has been no fee increase at all.
© Emirates 24|7 2012
