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Tribune News Network
Doha
A hike in tuition fee for private schools will only be approved after a comprehensive evaluation of applications based on the financial statements provided by the schools and steps taken for development of the academic performance of students, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has said.
In response to a news report regarding fee hike in private schools, the ministry, on its Twitter account, said mere application for a fee hike does not mean that it will be granted.
It said the Private Schools Office studies the applications and takes the right decision after making a comprehensive evaluation of facts.
A local newspaper had published a report that 120 private schools out of 260 have sought permission to increase tuition fees for the 2017-18 academic year.
A decision to this effect is expected in February. However, the move by the private schools has left many parents surprised.
The parents have taken to social media to express their displeasure over the fact that almost 50 percent of the private schools have sought permission to increase their tuition fees. They said private education has become a business to make profit.
One parent said that the school where his child studies increased the tuition fee last year by almost QR3,000. But he has not seen any improvement in the quality of education.
Another parent said private schools have now become mere commercial institutions and their primary concern is to increase profits.
Another parent said while the level of government schools continues to improve, the level of education in private schools is going down.
Another Twitter user said overspending by some people has led private schools to seek increase in tuition fees annually. He urged Qataris to send their children to public schools where quality education is being given free of charge.
Last year, 162 schools and KGs have sought permission to hike their fees, but only 55 were granted permission to raise their fees by two to seven percent.
