SEC might permit schools to increase fees

There is a possibility that private schools might be permitted to increase their tuition and transport fee in the next academic year due to rising costs.

Under increasing pressure from private schools to let them increase their fees, the Supreme Education Council (SEC), has hinted it might allow them the privilege in the next academic year due to inflationary pressures.

However, the fee increase would be small and allowed in a gradual manner, the SEC said. The raise would be permitted in such a manner that it matches the average rate of inflation.

The SEC said it is going to apply in the next academic year (2014-15) scientific and transparent evaluation methods to deal with requests from private schools to raise their fee.

The head of private schools’ office at the SEC, Hamad Mohamed Al Ghali, said in a statement the fee increase would be allowed based on the financial situation of the school and its need to do so, and make sure that it guarantees quality and efficiency of education.

“We need to support schools in meeting their increased expenditure, as also make sure that the fee raise does not affect parents,” said Al Ghali.

The SEC will analyse last year’s financial situation of each school that has applied for permission to raise their fee and see how many times they have resorted to fee hike in the recent past, QNA reported.

A severe shortage of private schools amidst exploding population is a serious problem for many a parent, say community sources.

There is a huge demand-supply gap and this clearly means that one cannot stop private schools from raising their fee. Community sources are thus of the opinion that private investment should be encouraged to fill up this gap. 

Republished from The Peninsula | Image from Qatar Tribune