School costs up despite ban on tuition fee hike in Sharjah

Sharjah - Fees for transportation, charges for books and uniforms shoot up

Many Sharjah private schools have found a way around the Ministry of Education's ban on hiking tuition fees without approval. According to the Sharjah Education Zone, schools have been found to have hiked fees for transportation and other services.
The zone has warned private schools against increasing fees for any services, including transportation, books and uniforms, to compensate for not being able to hike tuition fees.
A top official from the zone said: "Schools don't have the right to increase fees of any services without prior approval from the zone and the Ministry of Education."
He said the zone has received many complaints from parents about hike in fees for transportation and other services.
The official warned schools that hefty fines will be levied if fees for any services are hiked. Parents have been urged to report any unapproved fee hikes to the MoE or the Sharjah Education Zone.
The official explained that schools are allowed to hike fees if they meet certain standards set by the MoE.
20-30% hike
Parents Khaleej Times spoke to said even though schools have not hiked tuition fees, they have increased fees for other services by 20 to 30 per cent. A parent, Salwa Ibrahim, said she used to pay Dh2,800 as transport fees. "The school has increased this to Dh3,500. I have registered a complaint regarding this with the Ministry of Education."
Another parent, Hakam Nasser, said his children's school also hiked fees for other services. "We have complained to the MoE, which is currently investigating the issue."
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

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