FNC Seeks Tighter Limits On School Fee Increases

The Federal National Council (FNC) is set to debate rising school fees across the UAE's private schools.

On Tuesday, the council is expected to ask the Minister of Education to set tighter limits on private school fees.

Azza bin Suleiman, the Dubai representative, told the National school fees are so high that many parents have to take out bank loans.

She said, "the issue goes beyond the annual fees. There are charges for many other things that schools are creatively raising.”

Additional costs include, non-refundable amounts for applying to a school and securing a place, text books costs, excursions and uniforms.

“All of this leads to a greater problem,” she said.

She went on, “even banks have recognised that school fees require loans, and they started offering those."

"Private school fees are over-increasing year after year. It has become a stressful issue and a burden for nationals, especially when there is no alternative to private schooling."

"So what is the ministry doing to limit this trend?" she said in her question to Minister of Education Hussain Al Hammadi.

Mrs Suleiman then went on to question the quality of private education.

"If the increases are unavoidable, at least the standards of education should rise with the charges," she said.

"If I pay that much, I need the education to be exceptional. If the student is to continue his education abroad, his standards need to be high."

She asked for Article 51 of Federal Law 28 of 1999 to be put into effect which which prevents schools from increasing fees until at least three years after opening or since the last increase.

While the FNC itself cannot implement or pass laws, it is an influential body, responsible under the Constitution for examining, and amending if it chooses proposed federal legislation. It is also empowered to summon and to question any Federal Minister regarding Ministry performance.