Dubai schools allowed to raise fees by 6.4%

Dubai schools rated as ‘outstanding’ have been given the green light to raise tuition fees by up to 6.4 per cent.

The announcement was made by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority which said that fees for the academic year 2016-2017 can be raised by 3.2 per cent to the upper limit of 6.4 per cent.

This is the fourth time in five years that the education regulator has given permission for schools to hike their fees and marks the highest condoned rise during that period, beating the 6 per cent allowed in 2012.

According to the new fee framework, schools rated as ‘very weak’, ‘weak’ and ‘acceptable’ are permitted to raise their fees by 3.21 per cent. ‘Good’ schools have been give the all-clear to raise fees by 4.81 per cent and ‘very good’ schools may make a 5.61 per cent increase.

The KHDA reiterated that new schools are not allowed to increase fees in the first three years of operation.

The fee increase is based on the Education Cost Index for 2016 announced by Dubai Statistics Centre, which set the ECI at 3.21 per cent.