UAE: Some Sharjah schools not allowed to increase fees; authority explains rules

UAE: Some Sharjah schools not allowed to increase fees; authority explains rules

While some families say the hike will be a budget concern, others welcome the move, saying it would enhance the quality of education in the emirate

Published: Tue 14 Mar 2023, 5:58 PM Last updated: Tue 14 Mar 2023, 6:52 PM

Sharjah's education authority on Monday announced that private schools in the emirate may hike their fees by up to 5 per cent for the next academic year — but not all will be allowed to increase charges.

The decision — issued by the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) — will not cover schools with a rating that is below 'acceptable', while others will be allowed to increase only by a marginal amount.

Dr Muhaddithah Al Hashemi, chairperson of the SPEA, said the approval was based on a number of factors, from economic growth and global inflation rates to higher utility prices and operational costs.

Tuition fee structures in the emirate are also tied to each school's performance, Al Hashemi clarified.

Here's how the upcoming increases will apply to schools based on their ratings:

'Excellent' schools may hike fees by 5%

'Very good' schools may increase by 3.75%

'Good' schools may increase by 2.5%

'Acceptable' schools may increase 1.25%

“As for schools that were evaluated as poor or very weak, they