Business and Dealings

Q: I am part of a class in which schools gather and the students debate on issues of world problems and how to solve them. We each research a world problem and write papers/speeches for the competition. When the schools gather the host school asks for funds to cover costs. At the end of the competition the host school gives awards to the students who performed the best.

Now there are three things I would like to point out in this competition:

1. The money given to the host is used for food, janitors, and printing costs and as such cannot be waived.

2. The awards are mostly paper certificates and some trophies but all of which have little to no monetary value.

3. I recieve a grade on my performance regardless of if I get an award but some students there do not as it is not a class for them but a club.

Will this amount to gambling?

Q: An employer enters into a one year contract of employment with a senior level employee with a specific and unambiguous clause that says:

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

Three calendar months notice period will apply if your employment is terminated at any stage. Should the notice period be shorter than 3 calendar months, then the defaulting party must pay the balance of the salary equating to the remainder of the notice period not served (eg: should the employee request to leave with a 1 month notice period, then the employee must pay the employer the salary amount for the balance of the 2 months).      

Q: My child attends an Islamic school. We received a note saying that if school fees are not paid by a certain date then an additional amount will be charged daily and the account will be handed over. Is this money that they will charge daily after the cut-off date permissible?

Q: I would be grateful if you can guide me through my problem. I am currently staying in the UAE  (United Arab Emirates) and supporting my family (Parents, wife and two kids) who are also staying with me in the UAE as they cannot go back to Pakistan. My father is unemployed. My problem is that I have a limited income and everything is very expensive in the UAE. The house rents are also very high. In this situation I have got an offer from a businessman, that if I invest with him in the business he will give me 10% share of my investment every month. Understanding that his business is already well established and there are apparently no possible chances for any loss, please advise if this is halaal for me?