April 12, 2012

Fee increase evokes mixed reactions

DUBAI - Not all parents are upset by the proposed increase in school fees. The decision for the hike after a freeze of three years is seen as having been made in the interest of a good education system that is aspirational and forward thinking.

One parent said: “We can pay for other things, especially luxury goods, but when it comes to quality education everyone begins to complain. There is nothing more important than investing in your children’s learning process and if there is a need for a hike then we should cut elsewhere and absorb it.’’

Several teachers and parents did acknowledge that the six per cent high-end spike was not prohibitive and could easily be absorbed by the more affluent section of society who send their children to expensive schools.

In the more moderate section the hike was only three per cent to 4.5 per cent and this amounted to a small sum of money.

The major advantage being seen is that the official monitoring of the schools to ensure efficiency is integral to the protocol and will be that much more stringent.

The recommendation is based on the study conducted by The Department of Economic Development, Department of Finance, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Real Estate Corporation, Dubai Statistics Centre, Dubai Executive Council and KHDA who have carefully worked on developing the framework after factoring in all relevant variables.

The intention to review fee increase applications by schools is seen as an attempt to produce a more competitive educational environment.

Parents of students studying in private schools in the Emirate cautiously welcomed the Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA) decision to hike fees.

Reacting to KHDA’s decision to allow increase of fees in private schools, a few parents say that a hike at this time is ill advised, but admit that it is required to meet rising costs of running schools.

CEO of Indian High School Ashok Kumar said: “It’s a very scientific way of doing it and I appreciate the KHDA decision. The decision is based on proper research and the formula for increase has been scientific and it’s not arbitrary”. The Indian High School has not increased its fees in the last four years. “I don’t think parents will have a problem with the fee hike,” added Kumar.

Advertising professional Sunil Roy’s daughter is a Grade 12 student at the Indian High School, Dubai. He said, “The school has not yet intimated us. Compared to other schools in Dubai, The Indian High School has a reasonable fee structure. There are two components in the fee — one is academic and the other is transport. As far as I know, the hike will affect the academic part and six per cent is something I can manage. Ideally speaking, any hike at this time is not good, but again schools also have their expenses to meet.”

Snehashis Chakrabarty, a finance professional said: “I have two children. My older daughter is in Grade seven at the Indian High School and my son in KG2 at the Indian International School in Silicon Oasis. I think a fee hike at this point of time considering the current market scenario might affect a lot of people”.

For parents like Kevin Jamie whose daughter is a student at the GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, the hike makes no difference. “My company covers my kid’s education expenses, so hike or no hike it doesn’t make much of a difference for me. But I think it’s going to be very hard on people who have to spend for education from their own pockets,” said Jamie.

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