More than 200 parents gather in front of Dubai school to question fee increase

Dubai: More than 200 parents gathered yesterday at the Dubai Modern High School protesting what they described as "an unjustifiable" increase of more than 90 per cent in tuition fees.

Last week, Dubai Modern High School (DMHS) sent a circular to parents on the new fee structure that was approved last year by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) as the school plans to relocate from their Jumeirah premise to Nad Al Sheba, which is a 1.2 million square feet - approximately four times larger than the existing site.

The 90 per cent hike would cover the next two academic years.

Gulf News has continuously reported on the numerous letters and phone calls from parents - demanding clarification from the school management and educational authorities - requesting to be an integral part in the decisions that the school and education authority make.

The institution took considerable amount of time to listen to all concerns with a promise to address their concerns with the Global Education School Managements (GEMS), which manages over 20 institutions in the country including, the Dubai Modern High School.

Although the school says the hike is only 90 per cent divided over two years and approved on that basis, the fee structure for each grade provided by the school reveals a 110 per cent increase. When addressed by the concerned parents the school's Principal Darryl Bloud responded, "This is being addressed. I can't answer the question now."

The total increase will amount to more than 100 per cent because the 45 per cent rise for the second year will be calculated on the basis of the increased first year fees and not the current rates. To this particular matter, KHDA said they will respond next week.

In a written statement to Gulf News, Dino Varkey, Senior Director of Business Development at GEMS said, "The fee increase was approved by the KHDA over two periods of time, simply because the school is being built in two phases. This means 45 per cent in the first year and the remainder in the following in the second year."

In the same statement Varkey justified the increase saying, "the rise in land rent at our current premises has been 479 per cent at a time when we have only been able to increase fees within the KHDA limit of 39 per cent during the same four year period. Also, we have had to build a new school to accommodate our students, during a period when building costs have been high; the new school will cost Dh240 million upon completion. Our choice was either build a new school or to close Dubai Modern High School altogether," it stated.

"In the times of global financial turmoil when people are losing jobs or facing salary cuts, a fee hike of 110 per cent spread over a two year period comes at a most inappropriate time," said one concerned father.

"In fact school authorities had also increased bus charges from Dh150 to Dh450 per month when fuel prices went up last year, but haven't bothered to reverse the same with oil prices now down to around $45 (Dh165.15) per barrel," he added.

According to KHDA, the decision to grant permission has been taken "after careful consideration of the costs involved in moving a school. This change is effective for five years, with the initial 90 per cent increase to be taken over two years, followed by a freeze on fee increase the following three years."

Parents have requested for a second meeting with the chairman of GEMS during which they aim to present to him a questionnaire and a blog designed to reflect the response of many parents on the fee hike issue and what is in their opinion "a fair increase."