Private schools nationwide will be awarded grades by the Ministry of Education and Youth next year.

The ministry will also not interfere with market supply and demand mechanics, and will allow private institutions to raise student fees by up to 20 per cent a year if the school facilities warrant it.

The statements came alongside the Fifth Secondary Education Strategy and Future Vision conference and exhibition opened yesterday by His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman.

"This event is held against the background of enormous changes being witnessed in the world today, and we must be vigilant to these developments while being responsible and upholding our values," Sheikh Humaid declared.

He praised the effective role being played by the educational sector in the development process, and the students' role in helping build the nation's future.

The event, organised by the Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Foundation for Human Resources, was held at Umm Al Moumineen Centre, with a number of senior dignitaries, including Dr Ali Abdul Aziz Al Sharhan, Minister of Education and Youth, attending.

Student council members and academicians from throughout the Gulf also took part, with senior officials, and top male and female pupils being feted.

"The ministry is planning to classify private schools throughout the UAE and assign them with grades," Dr Al Sharhan said.

"We are doing our best to create and institute this system. Planning is at an advanced stage, and we hope to introduce the classified grades system for all private institutions from the next academic year," he said, speaking on the sidelines of the event.

On the issue of the green light accorded to several academic institutions to raise student tuition fees by up to 20 per cent — with some schools already having done so – the minister stressed: "The ministry will give the go-ahead if the schools meet our criteria.

"It is a matter of demand and supply, and we cannot go against market mechanics," he explained.

While some parents might be unhappy and might even have to relocate their children to schools charging lower fees, he said the classification system being introduced would help.

Sources added the classification is being undertaken in cooperation with an international team of consultants.

Earlier, Dr Ahmad Saad Al Sharif, ministry spokesman, noted the conference would foster dialogue at the pan-GCC level, and help concerted efforts to realise common goals.

"The demands on the process of imparting education today have gone up, making the staging of such conferences vital to fashion our future strategies," he stressed.

Saeed Mohammed Al Malles, director of the Saudi-based Arab Education in Gulf Area, praised the achievements of the UAE educational sector, which has seen rapid strides within a short span.

He added the expansion of UAE awards to include all GCC students from next year underlines the country's commitment to offering quality education throughout the region.