Determined by "Education and Knowledge": 8 conditions for increasing private school fees in Abu Dhabi

Students in private schools have informed Emirates Today that their children’s schools have obliged them to pay student registration fees for the next academic year, “seat reservation fees” under the tuition fees for the academic year 2022-2023, which can be increased, while the Department of Education and Knowledge has set 8 conditions for schools wishing to apply To obtain approval to increase its school fees, noting that the school must obtain the approval of the department regarding school fees, timetables for payment, and payment procedures, before announcing them to the students’ families, and before proceeding to collect them.

In detail, students in private schools in Abu Dhabi confirmed that, so far, their children’s schools have not informed them of the value of the tuition fees for the next year, and were satisfied with obligating them to pay one thousand dirhams for each student as fees to reserve a school seat for the next academic year, noting that the school administrations informed them that they had submitted a request to increase the tuition fees. They are waiting for the approval of the competent authorities, without specifying the percentage of the increase, so that they can take the decision to keep their children or transfer them to another school commensurate with their financial situation.

For its part, the Department of Education and Knowledge has developed a policy for tuition fees, which aims to adopt a clear and transparent approach to regulating fees, for both private schools and parents, to ensure that tuition fees reflect the quality of education, that school fees are reasonable and approved by the department, and determine the structure of tuition fees required from Private schools and the reasons behind any increase in these fees, in addition to enabling parents to pay the required school fees in a timely and flexible manner.

The Department of Education and Knowledge confirmed, "in the Manual of Private Schools Policies and Guidelines", that it takes into account when evaluating the appropriateness of school fees 4 basic aspects, including providing the necessary information in full, including submitting a complete financial study using the financial form issued by the department for this purpose, and comparing school fees with fees Schools of similar quality and similar curricula, taking into consideration the assessment of the school’s overall effectiveness in the latest evaluation report, and the cost of school facilities and services, in addition to ensuring that no fees are set that would enable the school to achieve excessive profits so that the commercial interest prevails over the quality of education, noting that It is necessary for the school to obtain its approval of school fees, timetables for their payment, and procedures for paying them, before they are announced to parents, and before collection begins. 

The department indicated that the school may collect the registration fee for students or re-register them within four months before the beginning of the school year, provided that it is later deducted from the school fees approved by the department and this amount does not exceed 5% of the value of the approved tuition fees, and the school collects the registration or re-registration fees When the student is registered at the school and not when applying for admission to the school.

The department stressed the need for the school to obtain the department’s approval regarding school fees, timetables for their payment, and payment procedures, before announcing them to parents, and before collecting them. The department sets the conditions for schools wishing to apply for approval to increase their school fees. The department reviews these conditions.

These conditions will include completing the department’s fee increase financial form, submitting audited financial statements for the time periods specified by the department, proving that there has been a development in the school’s overall effectiveness, completing school development plans and the professional development program based on the results of the inspection and general evaluation, and providing evidence regarding what has been done. An investment to achieve development in the school, the absence of violations or warnings issued against the school, the validity of the school license, in addition to an increase in the salaries of school staff.

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