Dubai announces new system for school tuition fees

Posted by: Anne Carrasset Boutros Friday, 3 April 2009 10:12 AM[UAE] - UAE

These new measures are to me outrageous and deprived of any logics. If a school is outstanding it needs no improvement and can do with a similar budget the following year. If a school is ranked as unacceptable it could be because it lacks financial means and hence should be allowed to increase its fees in order to reach acceptable standards! Especially non profitable schools. It also would have been an interesting idea to rate the schools according to the fees they charge so that the parents realize how good the money they spend on fees is invested and how good the return on their investment is.

Posted by: Afshin Salehi Saturday, 21 March 2009 12:36 PM[UAE] - UAE

I just don't know how far we can go on just increasing. The increase should have its relation to inflation. Where is the inflation this year? Isn't it just parents who still planning to live in Dubai amid this financial situation has to pay for those who're forced to leave the country? School are facing difficulties for the fact they're expecting children might not show up in next academic year in September 2009 and with this hike they can cover the gap. My only question is where is the limit? Well, we don't pay taxes!

Posted by: joh Saturday, 21 March 2009 10:53 AM[UAE]

Since the call for increasing fees keep popping up regulary, isnt it worth making the school's audited annual report available to public inspection ? Unfortunately it is not realised that parents do not seek schools that have a good facade but even a simple building with high level of academics will suffice. Secondly, why not make school transport an open business whereby other people who can handle this school transport are allowed to start their own school bus business and compete with school owned transport. The schools must also stop selling book sets and leave that to the book shops to sell. They must provide the list of books needed and leave that business to the book stores. In anyway, those books sold in scholls are not done for a discounted price.

Posted by: M.Iqbal Saturday, 21 March 2009 1:41 AM[UAE] - UAE

Please let me ask one parent in all those hundred of thousands ,would like to send their children in an acceptable and unsatisfactory school ? because these school can only increase by 9% ( EXCELLENT). KHDA has put the fees hike in the court of the parents ,that is if the school is excellent ,you have to pay. When the rentals are decreasing ,when the maintenance companies are cutting their charges by 50% and when the people are loosing their jobs due to high salary . Why KHDA ,has allowed the increase ,in a manner ,which is questionable ? Do they know that ,these classification of school hurts the parents ,who are compelled to spend on fees. The Education system should be equal ,providing equal opportunities to all the children .

Posted by: Bernard Friday, 20 March 2009 10:58 PM[UAE] - UAE

Its understandable that people with children of school age would be upset with this upside down thinking, but that is typical of the way problems are dealt with in this part of the world. I wonder how many of these comments are coming from the Jumeriah end of town where the majority of parents have their school fees paid by the companies they work for. There is a reality I think in what is happening in Dubai, expats are being slowly but surely forced out and families, due to the cost, will be the first to suffer.