Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

An Abu Dhabi school has lost a legal battle after refusing to issue a diploma, also known as a school leaving certificate, to a student over claims of unpaid fees. The Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal ordered the school to release the student’s diploma and pay the appeal costs. The court ruled that withholding a diploma due to outstanding fees violates the student’s right to education. The student’s guardian had filed a lawsuit at the Abu Dhabi Simple Commercial Court, stating all fees were paid in full and accusing the school of unjustly withholding the diploma. The court, finding itself without jurisdiction, referred the case to the Simple Civil Circuit of the Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance. The school responded with a counterclaim, alleging Dh15,800 in unpaid fees out of a total Dh35,800. A court-appointed expert investigated the financial claims, and the court initially dismissed the lawsuit, ordering the student and guardian to pay court fees. However, the guardian appealed the decision, insisting that all dues had been settled. Upon review, the Appellate Court found merit in the guardian’s claims. The final verdict emphasized that educational institutions cannot deny students access to educational documents due to financial disputes. The court also ordered the school to cover legal expenses. ICA/Expat Media
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