UAE | Education
Private education group aims to increase fees
A private education group has reminded parents once again that it will increase tuition fees, as soon as it gets approval from the Ministry of Education.
- By Sunita Menon and Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporters
- Published: 23:36 May 3, 2009
Dubai: A private education group has reminded parents once again that it will increase tuition fees, as soon as it gets approval from the Ministry of Education.
Global Education Management Systems (Gems), which runs 22 schools in the UAE, sent a circular on January 25 to parents of children at Our Own English High School in Sharjah, reiterating its intention to raise fees in the new academic year.
The school also raised fees by a 15 per cent fee hike last year.
Gems was in the news last year when it opted to go in for a massive fee hike ranging from 55 per cent to 70 per cent in five of its schools.
The group had to postpone the implementation of the fee hike until the Dubai Education Council (DEC) concluded its reviews and informed it of a new implementation date.
Monica Harter, the Corporate Communication Director at Gems, told Gulf News that the circular is a reminder to parents on the proposed fee hike.
"As of now we did not get an approval for a fee hike from the ministry," said Harter.
Mahmoud Khamis, director of the private schools and institutions licensing department at the Ministry of Education said that all private schools in Dubai fall under the DEC while the rest falls under the jurisdiction of the ministry.
"Our Own English High School in Sharjah, had implemented a 15 per cent fee hike last year. This means they cannot go for a hike this year," he said.
Parents who spoke to Gulf News but requested to stay anonymous said that the circular does not mention the percentage by which the fees will go up.
A parent said, "What if the new fee structure is unaffordable for us? Gems should inform us by what percentage they are going to increase the fees. This will help us decide if our children will be able to continue with the same school," said a parent.
Another parent said the proposed fee hike would put a big strain on the monthly budget of the expatriate families.
"The ministry should intervene and see to it that the fees are affordable for us. Or else we will have to send our children back home," he said.
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