New twist in school fee fight

Dubai: New battlelines have been drawn in the dispute over school fees with private education providers closing ranks and forming a business group to protect their interests.

Parents are worried that this move will gain schools more bargaining power to dictate tuition fees.

Thirty education providers are forming the Dubai Private Schools Group (DPSG) which will be registered with Dubai Chamber. It is still unclear who these 30 providers are. The group has not released its members' names.

Sunil John, spokesperson for DPSG, who is also CEO of Asda'a Burson Marsteller, told Gulf News private education providers will have a platform to voice common issues for the first time. He said more than 100 providers are expected to join the group.

"It is crystal clear where this move has originated from. It has come from the biggest provider which wants to dictate terms as a group where it will rule the roost," said Ray C., a member of the Dubai Modern High School Parent Committee.

Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Chairman, Board of Directors, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, told Gulf News: "The group should not be only focusing on the business aspect, but also include the educational aspects as their interest. Parents should take this as a call and form a similar body to strike the right balance between two interests."

Hamad Bu Amim, Dubai Chamber director general, said: "The chamber will extend full support to achieving the objectives of the proposed Dubai Private Schools Group, as education is the cornerstone of any developed society.

The Government of Dubai has allocated 22 per cent of the total budget in 2009, amounting to Dh8.325 billion for the social sector including health and education.

Upon formal inception, the Dubai Private Schools Group can streamline the growth of the educational sector by introducing and sharing global best practices."

The ESOELGroup, which has a number of schools, said it has heard of the group, but is not a part of the 30-member standing committee.

Obviously this is again having business intentions at the back of the mind of the group members, education is turning into a business , if you are taking so much of money why don't you provide quality education compared to other schools and institutes in other countries. Every day the businessmen in this country only think of innovative ways of riping the money of parents who are also a working class and are trying hard for ends to meet . The left out still in the UAE will also start to pack up and leave if prices of atleast education does not come down. Some days back there was a news that KHDA will be put a rent cap for premises that are being used by schools, but if a group of businesses ( education institutes) can influence authorities decisions then what are the parents supposed to do. In the name of quality education and international standards make all the money you want who is stopping you?
Barkha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 17:26

Official from Education Ministry in Dubai should not allow Education Institutes to form a Union with Dubai Chambers.Because Education Institutes should obey and respect the Law under the Ministry of Education(Dubai). and not with Dubai Chambers.Because of Highly Profits Mafia system in the Private Education in Dubai, they want to join the Dubai Chambers.Therefore, official from Ministry of Education(Dubai) should watch their activities and control the Private Education Department in Dubai for such a highly profit making mafia.
Qader Mohi Al Deen
Manama,Bahrain
Posted: June 10, 2009, 17:20

come on... GEMS, by itself has more than 30 schools. Therefore, this will end up to just one person's move (owner of GEMS), to play his game in draining parents money. Government should only register one school from each "owner", then we'll see the real number of concerned schools or school owners.
Rashid Karkain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 17:11

Looking at the attitude of school managements I feel that it will result in a business establishment, say "A B C D PVT SCHOOL
Martin Mathew
Doha,Qatar
Posted: June 10, 2009, 17:05

I THINK EDUCATION INSTITUTION IS CONSIDERED THE MOST PROFITABLE AND DOING SUCH BUSINESS IN UAE WHERE THERE IS NO CONTROL OVER THE FEES. SUCH INSTITUTIONS WILL ALWAYS PROSPER AND THE PARENTS IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO PAY.
Sailesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 16:46

This DPSG is a newly born sophisticated SHARK to swallow the hard earn money of already distressed parents. My humble request to KHDA not to suport.
Rashed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 15:56

Such Business Groups should not be allowed unless there is place for representation for parents, this will lead to only monopolise the education system and eventually lead to failure of basic education purposes. It is indeed a big threat to UAE's national interests.
Girish
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 15:56

If this does happen we will see a lot of people leaving....on the brighter side,more cheap used cars left from families that leave due to the increase of price in everything.
Abdul Rauf
Sharjah,United Arab Emirates
Posted: June 10, 2009, 15:47

Considering education as business is very shameful. UAE Govt should take serious notice of it. Schools are playing with children's future.
Taha Kamal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 15:15

My children attend a GEMS British curriculum school. Fees rose by 12% immediately after the assessment results were released. For my three children, the cost for 2009/10 will be Dh195,000. This excludes exam fees and transportation. Schools in Dubai charge a very high price for a very average education. They have been able to do this, in part, due to the competition for limited school places. Many expect the expatriate population will reduce over the summer. Instead of competition for places, there now may be competition to attract students. And so - with immaculate timing - we now learn that private school owners have set up a new body to protect their interests. Is the key rationale of this new body to be to prevent competition on price? After all, surely it's better to keep prices high and have fewer classes, than to compete and for all suffer? This Group claims the new forum will help improve education standards and share best practice. If its aims are so laudable, then why not all schools involved? And why is the Group not releasing all details of those who are? Parents need to organise themselves to be able to lobby the government, and the KHDA, for fair treatment from private schools. If this doesn't happen, then more and more people will send their kids abroad for education or will simply find the overall cost of raising a family in Dubai unacceptable. Regards,A very concerned parent.
Simon
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 15:12

Absolutely there should be no need or provision for any such School-Owners Body. Even without that, GEMS of the Varkey Group has already monopolised this critical sector of knowledge and education. Now with this ganging-up, they might also operate as a cartel, to keep their coffers overflowing.Nevertheless, Knowing the way a few educational enterprises are operating, and the hawkish attitude they carry along - Educational Ministry and KHDA should be the soul authority and arbitrator for education and educational institutions in Dubai.
Reuben S. Andrews
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:59

Education is not a part of Trading/commercial and schools are considered as a service industry. I wonder how they form a group to register in Chamber of commerce as(DPSG).Chamber of commerce has to reject their application, since it can register only pure Biz/Trading/commercial companies.
Mujeeb C.A.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:55

Surprising. People have no scruples squandering their precious hard earned money on kitschy luxuries but they will shed crocodile tears on their children's education. Wake up and smell the aromatic Arabian coffee, education does not come cheap!
Julian Bielby
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:55

Sounds like a Cartel to me. Illegal in a lot of nations.
carl
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:49

Before anything else let the worried parents check how much each school has to pay by way of rent for the school building!
Simon Stock
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:48

The schools are getting as bad a landlords in Dubai were, before the Government introduced a cap on rent increases.Last year the KHDA approved a 16% increases for "satisfactory" performance and this year it's 9% - have they forgotten we're in the middle of a worldwide financial crisis.School fees and rent are killing Dubai, soon people won't be able to afford to live here. I earn a good salary (when comparing to what I could earn in the UK), however where else in the world can you spend half your salary on school fees and accommodation?The schools have forgotten there key driver should be education and not FINANCIAL RETURN.
Kevin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:46

Why are committees being formed and education being made a business? Once the schools form a committee, parents too will step in and form their committee. This will only start endless discussions and fights. Imparting knowledge through education is definitely not a business. If all private schools merge in order to raise tuition fees, what are parents supposed to do? Is education all about collecting money by fleecing parents? Schools must not be profit making institutions. Is the committee going to discuss tuition fees or are they going to implement better standard of education and good teachers too? I do not think that the authorities must permit for such committees to be formed and make education into a business deal. Once the committee is formed, there will be no way to control the hike in fees or the quality of education they impart.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:45

I definitely agree with Dr. Abdullah Al Karam that instead of parents bickering and criticizing these move, they should follow suit and form their own organization ( a united parents front) that way they would be able to offset this move and there would be balance again in the educational system.
Joseph
Umm Al Quwain,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:39

this act is purely bussiness minded.if schools are giving good education to their studentsthen why students are going for private tution and pay double fees
Paras
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:28

Let the private schools form the commitee,but dont let them increase the fees again,its a request to KHDA.At this time i do hope that KHDA people will do something about it
Maliha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 14:04

Homeschooling is one solution that is working for my family. As a past teacher, I know that paying top dollar doesn't guarantee your child's learning environment. I now have a greater peace of mind knowing my children have a commited learning coach (me). Homeschooling is not for everyone, but I am very grateful for its impact on my entire family's life.
Samar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 13:43

Grouping under an umbrella of unity for common causes only will imrpove the standards of education. Why worry over such moves? The authorities at KHDA will be seeing into the working of the grouo as well.And as far as hiking fees are concerned, every thing comes with a price, and hence parents will have to bear the expenses accroding to the rise in the standard of living. And, then, there are other options, like sending one's children back home for better studies at a lower price!
Agniyah Shaikh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 13:37

Running a school is a service towards society than a pure business. It should not be forgotten that the world is now passing a bad phase due to economical meltdown. No steps should be allowed so as to have a more burden on parents forcing them to send their families back to their home country.
Narendra Kumar Modi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 13:32

YES we agree to it that the raise in fees is a money making business but the education provided is still the same,there is no changes on it.
Shezneen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 13:31

It is a good chance for the relevant authorities to draw proper lines and limits as registration preconditions for the private education providers committee regarding the quality of education and environment they provide to the students and restrict them to keep their charges ( I don't call it a fee) in acceptable and viable proportion. Moreover the salaries of the teaching staff shall also be looked into prior to their registration. It shall be binding on every member of the registered body. Bet me it is a valuable chance to harness them. I know a school where a master degree hold teacher is paid mere Dh2500.
Humayun Azhar Chaudhry
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 12:57

What we are paying is already unbelievable! Amongst us parents there exist people from practically all industries with varying experience and backgrounds! Let them not think for one moment that we are incapable of coming together and starting our own schools. After all... it is not rocket science!
Don
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 12:17

This clearly means that private education providers are only bothered about the Millions they rake year on year and would do whatever they want to keep that going.
Pradeep
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 11:42

this move should not be allowed as all ready the school fee everywhere are too high and parents are already finding it difficult to cope with the school fee.
Mufiz
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 10:53

It looks to me like the schools want to counter attack the parents with the recent hike in transportation fees and now this. I feel that life for them is only money, it is sad.
Rashid Midani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 10:29

Making only business from school fees without looking at the parenst income, education standards in the schools and teachers salary levels. This is very bad. It became a pure business.
Satyansure
Doha,Qatar
Posted: June 10, 2009, 10:26

Please note that health and education is under social sector and it is considered as a service sector. Service sector is not considered as a highly profitable sector that this is bound with social needs and responsibilities. We consider that this move is an organised challenge against the KHDA and the RTA. We suggest that the best and evergreen aspect of the education will always survive with the consideration that this sector is declared as a service oriented sector and a non-profit organisation. I feel that through this action it will invite the real educationalists to the country and several such organisations will provide a better service and attract Dubai as an educational hub of world.
Raj
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 10, 2009, 09:08