Back-to-school expenses hit parents in UAE hard

Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Many parents are struggling as usual to pay the first instalment of fees for the new school year, which begins next week, because of tuition fee hikes, unplanned expenses, and back-to-school shopping.

The first instalment, usually paid by cash or current-dated cheque at the end of August or the beginning of September, is typically the biggest single expense in the school year.

Parents of students studying in Indian curriculum schools, which start their first term in April pay their second term fees in September.

Parents said besides tuition fees, charges for new uniforms, books, and school transport are usually built into the first instalment. Adding to the financial burden are school bags, shoes, stationery and other items bought for the new school year.

Many parents are already squeezed for cash after returning from their annual leave or face rent payments around the same time as the first school instalment.

Parents interviewed by Gulf News said they try to plan and balance their expenses in order to meet the first instalment — sometimes by up to half a year in advance — but they often encounter surprises that blow a hole in their budget.

Dubai-based Algerian expat Ameenah Soussi had to budget extra for Dh4,500 this year after her two sons’ school asked for the amount for two tablets, as part of the school’s focus on “e-education”.

“This was outside our school budget, which we normally start saving for in March every year. The school obliged it, so as parents we go with for our children’s sake. I’m fine with it for my sixth grader — he’ll use it for many years. But for my eleventh grader, he will only use it for a year or two. At Dh2,250 per tablet, the investment is heavy,” Soussi said.

“On top of this, we’ve had to pay 15 per cent higher school fees this year. September is the highest month in terms of school costs, it’s a good sum of money.”

Indian expat Venicia D’Mello, another Dubai resident, said the first instalment is “always the biggest chunk” in schooling expenses for her son and daughter.

“It’s always there in the back of your head, that you must budget for it. Then you go on holiday and it kind of eats into that budget,” D’Mello added.

Also factoring in is the “shock” of fee hikes, which “you have to double if you have two children in school”, she said.

Zeina Shedib, a homemaker from Syria and mother-of-two who lives in Abu Dhabi, said she and her friends have been stressing about paying school fees right after returning from their summer vacations.

“Personally, I set aside money every month so that there is enough to pay the Dh8,000 instalment before the start of the school year. It is very tempting to use up the money while on vacation otherwise, and all my friends are stressing about this right now,” Shedib said. Her older daughter is set to start KG2 when the 2016-2017 school year begins, and her annual fees are about Dh22,000.

Salma, an Emirati mother-of-three, said the ability to pay in instalments has been a saving grace for her.

“My daughters are in public schools, so I don’t have to worry about paying their fees. My son, however, was in a private school, and I was always glad that I didn’t have to pay the Dh30,000 fee in one go right after our summer vacations,” she said.

Top back-to-school adjustments:

Diane Newton

School run

Diane Newton, Australian: “Picking up my children from school is always a nightmare, with all the traffic and the lined up cars. It is never fun, but I simply try to get there early and tell myself that it is just one of the things we must all deal with.”

Akshata Fernandes

Routine

Akshata Fernandes, Indian: “Getting back into a set routine is hard, but we try to excite my fourth-grade daughter about the fun things she will learn at school and ease her into the process. We also buy her new school items, like a backpack or stationery, and tell her that she can only use them if she gets to school on time.”

Deepak Dahiya

Sleep

Deepak Dahiya, Indian: “I drop off my two children to school. Using a school bus would have made the day start too early. I adjust my bed time earlier so I can wake up early enough for my children — and for my work. It works out well. We get to spend some quality time together.”

Sunil Sukumaran

Shopping

Sunil Sukumaran, British: “The week before school starts can be intense. You have to shop for stationery, supplies, etc. Yes, good prices are important but so is good quality. So you have to shop around if you want a good deal. Uniform and books I pick up from the school itself.”