Dubai: Private schools that had a 16 per cent hike in fees last year will not be allowed to increase their tuition fees for the next academic year, according to the Education Authority.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced on Tuesday that last year's 16 per cent fee hike will be permitted for the following academic year.
The KHDA clarified that schools which had not opted for a 16 per cent full fee hike last year can do so this year, provided they do not exceed the fee ceiling. This figure includes all mandatory costs levied on parents, including transport, books, uniforms and food.
However, a few schools are exempt from the policy, such as those undergoing renovation or relocating.
Two-thirds of the total private schools in Dubai, with 97,525 pupils, will not be able to impose any increase for 2008-2009, because they raised their fees by 16 per cent last year. However, the remaining 31 per cent of Dubai schools, with around 55,475 pupils are eligible to increase their fees.
The overall number of private schools in Dubai is 137, of which 56 applied for a fee hike last year. Of this 56, 49 were profit-making schools, while seven were non-profit.
Schools unhappy, parents hail move
Dubai: The announcement made by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority on the 16 per cent ceiling for the academic years 2007 to 2009 did not go down well with many schools in Dubai but the move has been welcomed by parents.
Irrespective of whether they had a fee hike last year, some schools said that they are hoping to increase their fees by 14 to 20 per cent. Many said that they have even applied for it and are waiting for a response from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Some of the justifications given by schools in going for a fee hike are rises in rents and diesel prices.
Advocate Najith, chairman of the Gulf Model School, Dubai feels that a 20 per cent hike in fees should be allowed.
He said: "This is based on the present fee system in our school which is around Dh3000-4000 per annum. Some schools have their average fees at Dh4000-5000 while there are also schools which have fees below Dh3000. Those who fall in the latter category will not be able to stand the rise in prices."
The school chairman said that a request for a 20 per cent fee hike has been made to the KHDA.
"Our school falls in one of the lowest fee schools. We have not increased our fees for the last five years. This year we may go for an increase," he said.
Jagjit Kaur, mother of two school-going children, said that she and her husband are keeping their fingers crossed over fee hike this year.
"The school that my children attend went for a 16 per cent fee hike last year. I hope that there won't be any raise this year otherwise it is going to get tough for us to manage the budget."
- Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
More details: List of schools
Parents seeking clarification and confirmation of their school fees for the academic year 2008-2009 should contact their school directly; the KHDA statement on school fees and FAQs have been posted on the KHDA website www.khda.gov.ae, along with a list of private schools showing their eligibility for a tuition fee increase, or not.
By Siham Al Najami, Staff reporter