Ban 'unsatisfactory' schools from fee hikes - poll

SCHOOL FEES: Just 14 percent of responders to an online poll agreed fully with Dubai's plans to cap fee hikes to performance. (Getty Images)

School fee rises should be capped, and schools that fall short of quality benchmarks should be banned form making fee hikes, according to the majority of those responding to an online poll.

The survey on school fees by Arabian Business came in the wake of news that Dubai was introducing a new system to regulate fees, which would see hikes in tuition costs capped to each school's performance, following an inspection.

Inspections of every school in Dubai by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau started last week.

They will determine whether schools are classed as ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘acceptable’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.

Under the scheme drawn up by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority those deemed ‘unsatisfactory’ will only be allowed to push up fees by 0-7 percent, ‘acceptable’ by up to nine percent, ‘good’ by 12 percent and  ‘outstanding’ by 15 percent.

The poll’s findings show that 50 percent of responders supported the move in principal, but believed schools graded as ‘unsatisfactory’ shoiolsd be prevented from making any fee hikes.

Just 14 percent said they agreed fully with the new system, which they believed would help to push up quality

Meanwhile, 19 percent felt that all fee hikes should be pegged to improvements in performance – not just performance - that would give poorly performing schools more impetus and financial support to make the grade.

A further 17 percent said they thought schools should be given free reign to increase their fees and let market forces do the rest.

Figures released on initial inspection last week revealed that just six out of 69 were deemed 'unsatisfactory'.

Four received 'outstanding' marks and the remainder were classed as 'good' or 'acceptable'.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM