SHARJAH // More than 300 parents gathered near a private school in Sharjah to protest against a 40 per cent increase in school fees.
According to Al Ittihad, The National's Arabic sister publication, many of the parents also filed complaints with the Sharjah Educational Zone and the Ministry of Education, calling for the hike to be removed.
Parents said that they understood why the school had to increase fees, but said that 40 per cent extra was too much to pay, and feared there would be more hikes in future.
The school principal said he had asked for a 50 per cent increase to allow the school to survive.
He said that the school, which was founded in 1981 and accommodates 2,800 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, currently charges fees ranging from Dh3,300 for kindergarten, Dh3,500 for 1st to 4th grade, Dh5,000 for 5th to 9th, and Dh5,500 for 10th to 12th grade.
The school offers up to 50 per cent discount for parents who have more than two children in the school, according to the principal.
He said that the school would listen to all complainants and would not deprive any student of the opportunity to receive education even if they fail to pay the full amount.
He added that the increase would be used for a Dh15million school expansion.
Ali Mehaid, undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, said the MoE’s approval is not final and it would be reconsidered after the school moved to the new building in the next academic year.
The final rise will be presented to parents to decide whether or not to keep their kids in the school.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
