Education Ministry reassures parents about proper study before fee hike
It was only yesterday that news broke about 120 educational institutions in the country requesting the Ministry of Education and Higher Education permission to increase fees for the new academic year.
The education ministry has reiterated that schools will be allowed to increase fees only after it carries out a comprehensive evaluation of applications from schools, based on the financial statements they provided and steps taken for development of the students’ academic performance, reported Qatar Tribune.
The ministry, on its Twitter account, clarified that mere application for a fee hike does not mean it would be granted.
The Private Schools Office will study the applications in detail and come to a conclusion after due diligence.
Many parents reacted with shock and incredulity on Qatar Living when the news was published yesterday.
“What’s the reason behind this? Are there any additional felicities the schools will be adding? It will be the same school, same teachers, same bus, same books and same way of teaching. But the fees….” said QL user Shafeek Ali on Facebook.
Mahi Mahi felt the schools should focus on controlling costs rather than increase fees.
“Rather than increasing fees, try to control cost. There’re so many unnecessary things schools are doing. One school charges QR100 for an ID card. It’s just one scanned paper put into a plastic case, which isn’t even worth QR10,” the user said.
Rasheed Mansour was sarcastic while reacting to the report.
“What do I expect from this hike? The level of education will now go higher so that when my daughter reaches third grade, she can join NASA,” he said.
There were also many parents who said that education had become mere business to make profit for private schools.
Last year, 162 schools and KGs sought permission to hike their fees, but only 55 were granted permission to raise their fees by 2 to 7%.
Education of high quality comes for a fitting price ........ let our kids have the warmth of our earnings as well ....... .... Parents need to control their expenses on the KFCs / Make up kits / Dresses / Shoes / mobiles / scents / etc ........... .......
Truthfully speaking the unjustified hike every year does not make any sense. The amount which I am paying might be good enough to send my children to UK or US for studies abroad. Apart from that I am unable to observe any value added.
I wonder if private school fees stay the same year in , year out in our home countries ?
There should be a range limit set per grade for every school to follow. Most international school fees in Qatar are much higher than western university fees. Education has become far too commercialised!
And If incase the SEC wants review from parents, than it should not be via school, but preferably through direct channel like website etc . All these bussiness centers must be brought under strict scanner .........expat money is hard to come by these days its not easy going .
Schools are eating us alive with no control whatsoever from the government; businesses are shutting down and no increases has been given for the past 3 years!!!!! what should we do to keep our children with us; we are seriously thinking of sending our kids back home just because we cannot afford schooling in this place!
Schools are eating us alive with no control whatsoever from the government; businesses are shutting down and no increases has been given for the past 3 years!!!!! what should we do to keep our children with us; we are seriously thinking of sending our kids back home just because we cannot afford schooling in this place!
So, dear parents please note that evaluation form what we filled good.. good and very good is for fee hike ?
My god, I will not do the mistake again even if it was good since I pay enough already.
Mahi Mahi is a kind of fish right? its a person's name?
Ohhh.......let me add in that there is one school in Doha that charges 1000 QAR for Id card and until now not yet issued we are into end of the academic year.
Parent just try to refrain from getting involved in controversies with school thinking about their kids, but yes these schools have made their businees
With all due respect , Mahi Mahi's comment does not make sense .... The ID card charge is another way of making money - It is of no real cost to the school :O(