‘Sharjah schools not allowed to hike fees arbitrarily’

Sharjah: Schools in Sharjah are not allowed to arbitrarily increase tuition fees, said the Sharjah Educational Zone (SEZ) authorities.

Responding to media reports referring to parents’ concern over the surprise increase of fee by a prominent private school in the emirate recently, an SEZ official said that increase in tuition fee by schools in Sharjah is approved by the authorities only if they meet certain conditions such as development of school infrastructure, the level of administrative, teaching and technical staff and the educational and social services provided by the school.

According to SEZ officials, the implementation of these conditions by schools is strictly ensured and monitored with regular visits by a supervisory committee of the SEZ and the Education Ministry.

Similarly, schools could invite penalties, including fines, if they arbitrarily raise the bus fee without the necessary approval of the Sharjah Educational Zone and the ministry, warned the SEZ officials.

Meanwhile, according to SEZ data, the number of schools in the emirate has gone up to 232, including 125 public schools and 102 private schools. The new academic year saw the addition of five new private schools.

With the beginning of the new academic year, the SEZ has stepped up its efforts to implement the Education Ministry’s plans for healthy educational practices in all Sharjah schools in order to create a positive educational environment in the emirate.

Schools have also been told to strictly adhere to gender segregation in buses and not allow male supervisors on girls’ buses.