Birth Certificate for school admission

Received a notice from school of my child asking to submit birth certificate. "In case you fail to submit these documents by 20 May 2008 your child's admission cannot be registered with the Ministry of Education (UAE) and hence will be cancelled automatically. The school will not be refunding any fee deposited by you in such a situation". (they will not refund the fee, but what about possible loss of one year of my child? Can they refund?). The notice is dated 21 April 2008 but it was sent with child on 13 May 2008. So i have to arrange birth certificate in 7 days! (I am advised that it will take 20 days to get the certificate)

So what is nonsense?

My child got a passport issued by Indian Authority which clearly states his birth date and place. UAE government recognise this passport that is why they issued him a residence visa. So why can't Ministry of Education can't accept this as proof of his birth?


Government issues passport after verifying genuineness and birth certificate. As this valid passport is on hand, why another document is required to prove the birth? And this birth certificate required by Ministry of Education is to be issued from India Consulate. Indian Consulate issue this certificate purely based on the passport! So does this make sense to obtain another document of birth solely for school admission?


I have got birth certificate issued from the municipal authority in India at the town where he was born. Interestingly it is also not acceptable! They want one to be issued from Indian Consulate in Dubai. (I am not sure this is exactly what Ministry of Education requires. But this is what school authority asks for)

Anybody care the impact of such nonsense bureaucratic procedures?
Economic and environmental impact of these type of unnecessary bureaucratic procedures are enormous. Financial and psychological pressure that put on the individual is another thing.

Usage of paper: How much papers are wasted for such unnecessary procedures? Indian consulate got a 4 page application form for this purpose. They will probably will issue a certificate in a sheet of paper. It is common to have photocopy of passport which will be another 3 pages.

Traffic and carbon emission: For me it took one hour from office to Indian Consulate and back. Who knows how many of the cars on the road are driven for the purpose of such unnecessary procedures? Isn't a portion of the huge traffic on Dubai road, and a portion of the total carbon emission in the town for such unnecessary bureaucracy?

Time and productivity: An individual has to spend an average 3 hours in the Indian Consulate to get things done. The huge queue at the offices, and heavy burden and stress that create on the employee. The time off from work to get such things done. And psychological effect on individual who have to spent his time in long queue. The list goes on.

Financial and economic impact: The cost for the certificate at Indian Consulate is Dhs. 30.00. Cos of travelling. Economic impact of lost productivity, increased traffic and fuel consumption.

PS: Experience at Indian Consulate, Dubai is a subject for another post