School Threatens to Cut Student Strength if Fee  Hike Not Allowed

SHARJAH - A private school in Sharjah has threatened the Educational Zone here to cut its student strength by 25 per cent if its request for permission to increase fees by 30 per cent is  turned down.

By Mohsen Rashid

Published: Fri 20 Feb 2009, 1:24 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 1:31 AM

The Scientific Creativity (Ibda’) School, which has 1,685 students on its rolls, said that it applied for permission to hike fees two months ago, but is yet to receive a response.

Waleed Ramadan, principal of the school, told this reporter recently that a 30 per cent hike in school fees is within its rights, as fees have remained unchanged for the last three years.

He cited the private education regulations that allow for a 10 per cent increase in fees per year in three years.

“As the cost of services around us are soaring steadily, the school administration has no option but to demand such an increase. Otherwise, it will face heavy losses,’’ he said.

“When we approached the Education Zone last week enquiring about the fate of our request, the official concerned told us that it will be decided before June. This will add additional pressure on us, as we have to give parents enough time to decide whether they want to keep their children in our school or not.”

The school administration informed parents of its intention to increase the fees by 30 per cent for the 2009-2010 academic year after getting the zone’s nod, forcing several parents to lodge complaints with the zone.

Fuziya Garib, Director of the zone, said it is following a specific system for handling requests of private schools for permission to hike fees. “The requests should be submittedby March. Committeesare then formed to examine them and decidewhether to allow the hike and the percentage of increase,” she clarified.

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