DUBAI — All internationally-accredited schools have increased their tuition fees much more than other private schools in the emirate, much to the chagrin of parents. Though the educational body in the emirate has exempted these schools because they are accredited, parents say this is just a loophole exploited by schools to charge exorbitant fees.
Parents say they are hard hit by the authority's decision to give them the leeway to set their own fee structures.
So far, there are eight internationally-accredited schools in Dubai and officials say all of them have increased their fees between 20 and 25 per cent, over the usual 16 per cent, in the last two years.
At a Press conference in March this year, Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General of KHDA, told reporters that the these schools were encouraged to contact the authority and they were exempted from the ruling.
The waiver
However, parents are not pleased with the waiver made by the authority and demand the reasoning behind it. The schools that are accredited include Dubai American Academy, Dubai National School-Al Barsha, American School of Dubai, Emirates International School (EIS)-Jumeirah, Emirates International School (EIS) — Meadows, Dubai International Academy, Dubai International School, Deira International School and The Universal American School.
AG, a parent whose child studies at EIS Jumeirah, told Khaleej Times the school had hiked the tuition fee this academic year, despite a 20 per cent increase last year. The school recently sent letters to parents notifying them of a five per cent increase again this year.
The parent said, "Over the last five years, the school have increased fees almost every year by over 10 per cent. It is very difficult to keep up with the increasing fee hikes of the school. Besides, we have to pay an examination fee of over Dh3,000 every year and the transportation fee."
He added, "We have been told by the school and education authorities that since it is an internationally-accredited school, this hike is justified. There should be no category and the 16 per cent ceiling should apply to all schools, rather than exempting a few schools since they are internationally-accredited."
Jason Kirwin, Principal-High School, EIS Jumeirah, told KT, "In 2007-08 we raised the tuition fees by 20 per cent. In 2008-09 we have permission to raise tuition fees by 5 per cent to top up to the two-year maximum of 25 per cent. This 5 per cent raise in fees will offset the substantial increase in teachers' salaries. The increase in salaries ensured EIS-Jumeirah High School was in a position to recruit high quality teachers from around the world (predominantly the UK) for the upcoming academic year."
Inflation impact
He said that if inflation persisted, there could be an increase again next year.
An official from DIA said that effective next academic year (2008-2009), KHDA has approved a fee increase of 20 per cent for the school. Justifying the increase, the official said, "We have got IB authorisation for all three IB Programmes (PYP, MYP & DP) and is the first school in the country to have gained the status of an IB World School offering the entire continuum of IB programmes. We have also been accepted as a regular member of the Council of International Schools. With this fee increase we are still substantially lower in fees than other international schools offering similar programmes in our vicinity."
The official added that in order to be authorised as an IB World School, for example, they have to invest heavily on an ongoing basis in teacher training programmes conducted by IB all over the world.
"To attract and retain teachers with international or IB experience and training, we have to compete in salaries with the best schools all over the world. Also, to retain these teachers we need to keep raising the salaries each year with no corresponding increase in the fees each year. Besides, we have to incur additional administrative overheads," he said.
A parent said, "Even if it is an internationally-accredited school, the education imparted is the same as in other IB schools and the children write the same examinations. What is the logic behind this exemption?"
However, KHDA maintains that internationally-accredited schools have the freedom to set their fees as they have to incur annual accreditation costs. In fact, the authority has been encouraging more schools to opt for international accreditation. It recognises all international accreditation. However, it works closely with New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC) and International Schools Council