Price of education: Pay up first

Dubai : Parents are seething with rage after a private education group asked them to pay in advance a big portion of the fees for the next academic year.

Parents said the International School of Choueifat (ISC) chain recently sent them a text message asking them to settle a third of the tuition fees - between Dh18,000 and Dh28,000 per year - by May 10.

Noora Nofal, a mother of an ISC student, believes seats are, in effect, being "sold". "We feel education has been turned into a business," she said.

Too much to handle

Nassera Ali, who has three children in the Sharjah ISC, said: "A third of three children's tuition fees comes to around Dh20,000. That would really be tough to pay at once."

Taghreed Salim, a mother of a grade-three student, added: "It creates a feeling of insecurity in the child, who fears being moved to a different school and forced to go through a new coping phase, which eventually affects the grades."

Parents said they are hoping the ISC chain will drop its policy, and have called for a uniform fee payment system across all UAE schools.

The Ministry of Education does allow schools to take a deposit or registration fee in advance, but only if it's limited to Dh500 per child or five per cent of the total fees - whichever is lower. This amount has to be deducted from the school fees if a student returns for another year. However, it is not refundable if the child leaves the school.

Jamal Hazboun, Director General of Choueifat Schools, UAE, defended the procedure, saying it provides a clear picture of the number of registered students and helps administrators make staffing and other arrangements for the new school year.