Schools that increased fees last year up to the 16 per cent legal limit in Dubai will not be allowed further hikes this academic year, the city’s education authority said on Tuesday.
To control rising school tuition, the KHDA, or Knowledge and Human Development Authority, had asked education providers the previous academic year (2007-2008) not to spike costs by more than 16 per cent in one year.
That cap has now been split and extended to cover the 2008-2009 period.
“Those schools that increased their fees less than 16 per cent can now top up their increase, to a maximum 16 per cent, if they wish. In effect, therefore, schools have been allowed to increase tuition fees by up to 16 per cent over two years, inclusive.
This figure includes all mandatory associated costs levied on parents, including transport, books, uniforms and food,” read a KHDA statement released to the press.
“The extension of last year’s decision on allowable fee increases stems from our desire to stabilise the market while permitting the reasonable increases schools may need to cope with the rise in cost of living …” added Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, the KHDA’s director general.
Most schools that raised fees the previous round used their full allowance. These schools - two-thirds of private schools in Dubai with 97,525 pupils - will not be able to impose any increase for 2008-2009. This decision is binding on all 137 private schools in Dubai, that teach around 153,000 pupils.
Certain types of schools - community or embassy-run, internationally-accredited ones and those relocating their campus - have been excluded from the new rule.
“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 [Frequently Asked Questions] 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,” the statement advised.
Dr. Al Karam said while price regulations will continue for “the next couple of years,” the KHDA will eventually let parents and schools fix rates. “Investors are in it to make money … we just want to make sure they don’t exploit the mismatch between supply and demand,” he said.
Individual letters on the development were dispatched to school heads in Dubai Tuesday morning, the KHDA said.
By Faisal Masudi, Staff Reporter
Page last updated 01 January 2020