Parents of Emirates Today reported that they find a significant difference between the school fees displayed on the website of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, and what schools demand from them when registering their children.
The Authority stated that the fees published on its website are limited only to the mandatory tuition fees, pointing out that the private schools in the Emirate abide by the fees approved by the Authority.
“When I wanted to enroll my children in a private school, some people advised me to check out the KHDA website so that I could compare the school fees and choose what suits my financial potential. When I visited the school to register, I was surprised that the fees for the ninth grade were 56,395 dirhams, for the tenth grade 56,445 dirhams, and for the eleventh grade 55,595 dirhams, an increase of about 44%. ''
He added that «the difference in fees that surprised me surprised me, because they are exaggerated, and although the additional fees are optional, but they are necessary, and the student's parents have to».
Lama Ibrahim (the mother of a student) said that the difference between the fees displayed on the site and what the school requires financially confuse the students when registering, adding: «When we talked with the Department of Registration at the school that what is offered by the site is different from what we are asked to pay, she responded that the fees The actual decision is made by the school, and upon review by the Authority, a staff member receiving the complaints told us that the website publishes only the tuition fees, and the authority explained on each school's fee page.
“I checked the KHDA website again and found that it bears the words (the annual fee here refers to tuition fees only. »Calling the Authority to include compulsory and optional fees for each school.
Hayat Abdul Jalil (Taleb's mother) demanded that the Authority's website include full school fees, whether compulsory or optional.
She said that she chose a school based on the British curriculum to enroll her daughter in the fifth grade, and in search of the school on the website of the Commission found fees of 9709 dirhams, and upon registration told the school that the tuition fee is 10,259 dirhams, an increase of 5% on the website.
The contract includes mandatory service charges
The Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) explained that private schools adhere to approved school fees published on the KHDA website, noting that the school contract and guardian are the legal framework that guarantees the rights and responsibilities of the parties with regard to various aspects relevant to the education of their children; It covers compulsory service fees, so that private schools adhere to the fees stipulated in the contract signed by the guardian and the detailed data of the fees approved by the Authority.
The contract also includes details of non-educational services and activities, such as books, transportation and uniforms, which are provided in two ways: the first through the school itself, in which case it is subject to the requirements of the Authority, the school is not entitled to impose any increase before obtaining the approval of the Authority, while the second method is In contracting with third parties to provide these services, in this case the Authority does not interfere in determining its fees, and is subject to the jurisdiction of other government agencies concerned.