Abu Dhabi/Dubai/Sharjah: This year, the Abu Dhabi Education Council, the emirate’s education sector regulator, announced that 51 schools have been allowed to increase fees. The average increase for 2016-2017 compared to 2015-2016 will be about six per cent. Parents who spoke to Gulf News said they were not yet aware of any increases in their children’s fees, and added that they had not seen a rise over the last three years. They did, however, report spending at least 30 per cent of their annual income on their children’s education.
Michael Kelley/Abu Dhabi parent Two children in higher grades Dh100,000 each year
“Education in the UAE is an expensive affair. Even though my children receive a world-class education, its cost is rather prohibitive,” Michael Kelley, 50, a consultant physician and father-of-four, told Gulf News.
Kelley currently has two children studying in higher grades at an American curriculum private school in the capital.
“Tuition fees amount to Dh85,000 per year per child, and with ancillary costs, I probably pay about Dh100,000 each year. So I have to plan my expenses really well, especially as I have two other children attending university in the US,” he said. He added that he can only work in jobs that pay enough.
Adam Pitt/ Abu Dhabi parent Son starting school this year Dh24,000 per year
Adam Pitt, whose four-year-old will be starting school this summer, said he will be paying Dh24,000 per year.
“This is actually half the tuition because my wife works at the same institution and receives a discount. School fees are undoubtedly very high, and we knew this before we moved here two years ago. But it was a strategic decision because we knew my wife’s work would help us balance these costs,” said Pitt, 32, an account manager for media strategies from the UK.
Pitt said most parents absorb the cost of school essentials into their monthly expenses. “We simply merge the cost of stationery, bags and books with our other shopping. And we are glad to note the flexible payment systems that most schools offer,” he added.
Angelo Shelton Nigli / Dubai parent Son in Grade Two Dh2,500 minimum per month
Nigli’s only son studies in an Indian school following the CBSE syllabus.
“The fee is already above average in his school. But it was our choice to send him to this school. Since they have received a good rating, they were allowed to hike the fees twice in these four years — an increase from three to five per cent,” said Nigli, a senior sales manager with a tyre dealer company.
However, he noted that the increase in the fees together with the rising cost of school supplies will affect the family’s budget.
“There is a 15 to 20 per cent hike in school supplies. There is also about a 10 per cent increase year on year for the school uniform. If I used to keep aside some Dh2,000 monthly for him, I will have to keep some Dh2,500 minimum in hand from now onwards.”
Afsheen Fatima/ Sharjah parent Son in third Grade Dh900-Dh1,000 per month “My son’s school hasn’t hiked its tuition fees, but I’ll be paying more this school year because he has gone to a higher grade. Plus, other fees have increased, such as the bus fee by Dh40 and Dh150 for a new form. I’ve also been asked to pay three months’ tuition fees as one instalment. I used to pay per month, which was much easier,” said Afsheen Fatima, a Pakistani mother.
“Books and shoes are also more expensive this time.
I typically spend around Dh900 to Dh1,000 every month on education costs. We are salaried people, every additional cost counts.”
Her seven-year-old son attends a British curriculum school in Sharjah. She added: “What’s more is that every year there’s a new fad that children want to follow when it comes to school bags or other school supplies. That means more spending.”
