Dubai: More than half of the parents who participated in an online poll conducted by Gulf News want private schools to reduce tuition fees.

The economic conditions that led to a dip in property rents have been pointed out as a valid argument for stabilising school fees.

While 66 per cent of the people said school fees should be reduced this year, 11 per cent said fees should not be allowed to increase. Around 19 per cent said that schools can increase their fees depending on the quality of education they deliver, whereas only four per cent of readers supported a fee hike this year.

"My two kids are studying in Our Own High School and they have increased the fees by more than 40 per cent. The school is levying Dh330 for bus transport to Bur Dubai which in itself is too high. Now the costs of property and rents are down, and hence both transportation and tuition fees should be brought down," wrote a parent from Dubai.

Another parent said there should be new regulations to control the fee increases.

"The school where children go behind Al Mulla Plaza had fee increases up to 20 per cent in the pretext of improving the facilities. We are yet to see those promised facilities. I think the educational authorities should stop schools from further increasing fees or else parents will be forced to pull their children out of their current schools and go for cheaper options back home," said the mother.

Last year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) allowed schools in Dubai to raise fees by 7 per cent to 15 per cent depending on their performance as categorised in the school inspection reports. The outstanding schools could increase 15 per cent, good schools were allowed 12 per cent, satisfactory ones nine per cent and the unsatisfactory schools seven per cent.

No reason

However, Dr Abdullah Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General of KHDA said in a recent interview to Gulf News that there is no reason for schools to increase fees by double digits this year as market conditions have stabilised.

"Now inflation is coming down and property rentals are stabilised. So school fees must reflect the stability of the costing," Karam said.

He added that talks are under way with the Ministry of Education regarding the fee regulations for the current academic year even as many private operators are pushing for funds as a prerequisite to improve quality.

Gulf News poll result

What parents says on fee increases for the year
Stay the same (18) 11%
Increase (6) 4%
Be based on education quality (31) 19%
Decrease (107) 66%

Are your children's school fees justified? Would you pay a lot of money if you knew your child was getting proper education? Leave a comment by clicking on the 'Post a comment' link below.