Latest news with #EducationCostIndex
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Dubai school fees soar by up to Dh5,000: How are parents coping with the hike?
As Dubai school fees increase by up to Dh5,000, parents are adjusting by paying upfront for discounts or considering school transfers. A wave of school fee hikes has been announced across Dubai, leaving parents to either adapt to the higher costs or consider alternative schooling options. While some families are grappling with increases of up to Dh5,000 annually for each child, others are managing more modest hikes of a few hundred dirhams. Despite the widespread rise in fees, many parents are exploring ways to cope, from paying annual fees in lump sums to researching more affordable institutions. Fee Hikes: What's Driving the Increase? In May 2025, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) approved a 2.35% increase in the Education Cost Index (ECI) for private for-profit schools for the 2025-2026 academic year. This decision allows schools to adjust their fees based on individual school grades, as determined by the results of the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) and the ECI. The change impacts families across Dubai, who have started receiving notifications about the fee increases. The adjustment is part of a broader effort to account for inflation, rising operational costs, and other financial pressures faced by schools. However, while some parents are facing steep increases, others are relieved by more manageable hikes. A Mixed Reaction from Parents Many parents are already feeling the financial strain of the fee hikes. For example, Manal, a Dubai resident with children attending an Indian syllabus school in Al Quoz, shared that her family's total fee increase will amount to Dh400 per year for both of her children. 'I am very glad that the increase is manageable and not a huge burden,' Manal said. 'We had budgeted for an increase this year so we were not caught off-guard,' Khaleej Times reported. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In contrast, some families are facing much steeper hikes. Vivek, an Indian expat with two children enrolled in a premium school, revealed that his children's school fees currently range from Dh87,000 to Dh92,000 annually. The recent fee hike will cost him an additional Dh10,000 per year for both children. 'However, our school gives the option of paying the entire year's fees in one go,' Vivek said. 'This has given us a lump sum discount, so the total fee increase for me has come to about Dh3,000 per year for both children. ' Meanwhile, other parents like German expatriate Greta, whose three children attend a British syllabus school in Jumeirah, are feeling the squeeze. 'I got the email yesterday that my school fees have been hiked by Dh2,000 per child per annum,' Greta shared. 'That's a total increase of Dh6,000 per year in school fees alone. The books, uniforms, and other study material are not included in that.' Greta admits that she cannot consider switching schools because her eldest child will be entering Year 11 in the upcoming academic year. Instead, she and her husband are adjusting by cutting back on some extracurricular activities to offset the additional costs. The Growing Need for Affordable Options For some parents, the fee hikes have become too much to bear, prompting them to consider transferring their children to more affordable schools. Mohammed Iqbal, whose children attend a British syllabus school in Qusais, expressed relief as his school's increase was relatively modest, Dh1,200 annually. 'I was expecting a little more than that, so I am very happy,' he remarked. On the other hand, parent R.M., whose children attend another British syllabus school, has seen fee increases two years in a row. 'Last year, our school increased fees by 4.55%, and this year again, they announced a 2.35% hike,' R.M. explained. 'While I understand that the cost for businesses is going up, it puts a burden on parents because unfortunately, salaries don't increase at the same rate as the costs. I began researching schools as soon as I heard about the fee hike, but then soon realized that changing schools would bring with it a fresh set of challenges. So we decided to stay put at our current one.' Umm Mohammed, another Dubai parent, decided to move her daughter to a more affordable school before the fee hike was announced. 'We were paying over Dh55,000 in annual fees at our previous school,' she recalled. 'It was already the higher upper limit of what we could afford. So last year, we decided to move her to another school. Now we pay Dh30,000 inclusive of school fees, uniforms, and books. When the announcement of the school fees came, I was relieved. At our previous school, the fee increase would have been really difficult for us. But now, the fee increase is about Dh1,000 per annum. It is very manageable for us. I think it was the best decision to move her," she added. The Bigger Picture: Dubai's Expanding Private School Sector Dubai's private school sector has been booming, with a 12% increase in student enrollment recorded in the 2023-2024 academic year. As of the latest figures, Dubai has 227 private schools serving 387,441 students from 185 different nationalities. The rise in student numbers has likely contributed to the increased demand for private education and the subsequent fee hikes. Despite the challenges, many parents still find value in Dubai's private education system, with some schools offering flexible payment options to help mitigate the financial strain. The diverse offerings of schools, from international curricula to specialized programs, also give parents more choices, though finding an affordable option in the current climate can be challenging.
Khaleej Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: KHDA allows private schools to raise fees for next academic year
Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) approved, on Friday, an Education Cost Index (ECI) of 2.35 per cent for for-profit private schools in the emirate for academic year 2025-2026. The decision is based on the annual review of audited financial statements submitted by Dubai private schools, in collaboration with the Digital Dubai Authority. KHDA, Dubai's education regulator, noted 'the ECI takes into account the operational costs of running a school to offer a high quality of education, including staff wages, support services, and rental expenses.' In Dubai, for-profit schools can increase their fees based on their individual school grade as per the results of the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB), and the ECI which is calculated on a regular basis. Any fee increase can only be implemented for a particular academic year and cannot be carried forward to the upcoming academic years. The ECI is based on the annual audited financial statements of private schools in Dubai, which outline the operational cost of running a private school to offer a high-quality education. The ECI used for the current school year (2024-2025) was 2.6 per cent. Transparent methodology 'The ECI for fee adjustments is based on a robust and transparent methodology that supports schools in Dubai to manage their resources while maintaining a high quality of education in line with the needs of students and parents,' noted Shamma Al Mansouri, director of licensing and education services at KHDA. 'This sustainable approach to regulating school fees reflects Dubai Government's commitment to transparency and efficiency in the education sector. It ensures that Dubai remains a leading destination for high quality education in line with the goals of the Education 33 Strategy,' she added. KHDA said they have informed all private schools in Dubai about the requirements for submitting fee adjustment requests for the next academic year. 'Eligible for-profit schools may apply for an increase up to, but not exceeding, the approved ECI. Private schools that have been operating in Dubai for less than three years are not eligible for a fee adjustment. All applications will be reviewed by KHDA to ensure they meet the criteria for fee increases,' KHDA underscored. Dubai currently has 227 private schools serving 387,441 students from 185 nationalities. The sector recorded an unprecedented 12 per cent increase in student enrollment in the 2023-24 academic year. According to KHDA, enrollment grew by a further 6 per cent during the 2024-25 academic year. Fifteen new private schools have opened in Dubai in the last two academic years, and KHDA is currently reviewing more than 20 applications for new schools set to open in the next two years. The opening of new schools and steady enrolment growth in Dubai's private education sector support the objectives of the Education Strategy 33, which aims to open at least 100 new private schools by 2033.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's KHDA announces pause on some school inspections for 2025-26
No inspections will be conducted for Dubai private schools during the 2025-26 academic year, the emirate's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced on Friday, May 16. 'The decision – part of an evolving approach to supporting quality education in the emirate – applies to all private schools, except for those in their third year of operation, that will be subject to a full inspection,' KHDA said in a statement shared with Khaleej Times. '(We) will continue to monitor school performance through targeted visits focused on specific areas related to educational quality and ongoing development. These visits will be informed by feedback from the school community and aligned with the Education 33 strategy's priorities,' KHDA added. 'Dubai's private schools have consistently demonstrated resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to students' learning and wellbeing,' Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA further explained. She noted: 'The suspension of inspections next year will allow for greater collaboration and reflection on how we define and support quality in education. Through targeted visits and ongoing engagement with schools, we will ensure that every child in Dubai continues to receive a high quality education that aligns with (our) goals.' Self-evaluation forms All schools, however, are expected to continue administering external benchmark assessments to monitor and report students' academic progress. Schools will also be required to provide regular updates through their self-evaluation forms (SEF). According to Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), SEF outline the improvement process of a school, where they are asked to respond to specific questions about their 'provision for special educational needs, early years formation, innovation, the UAE National Agenda, social studies and students for whom English is an additional language (EAL).' All schools must complete the KHDA self-evaluation online document at least two weeks before their inspections. Meanwhile, KHDA early this month approved private schools in Dubai to raise school fees for next academic year on the basis of Education Cost Index (ECI) of 2.35 per cent. In Dubai, for-profit schools can increase their fees based on their individual school grade as per the results of the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB), and the ECI which is calculated on a regular basis. Any fee increase can only be implemented for a particular academic year and cannot be carried forward to the upcoming academic years.
Hi Dubai
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
KHDA Suspends Inspections for Dubai Private Schools for 2025-26 Academic Year
Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that no inspections will be conducted for most private schools in the emirate during the 2025-26 academic year, marking a significant shift in its approach to evaluating education quality. The decision, revealed on Friday, May 16, applies to all private schools in Dubai except those in their third year of operation. These newer schools will still undergo full inspections. The KHDA explained that the move aligns with a broader strategy to foster collaboration, innovation, and ongoing development in the education sector. Instead of traditional inspections, the KHDA will carry out targeted visits focused on specific areas of educational quality. These visits will be guided by community feedback and aligned with the priorities of the UAE's Education 33 strategy. Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA, highlighted the rationale behind the change. 'The suspension of inspections next year will allow for greater collaboration and reflection on how we define and support quality in education,' she said. 'Through targeted visits and ongoing engagement with schools, we will ensure that every child in Dubai continues to receive a high quality education that aligns with our goals.' Schools are still required to monitor and report academic progress through external benchmark assessments. Additionally, they must regularly update their self-evaluation forms (SEF), which are designed to reflect each school's progress and focus on areas such as special educational needs, early years development, innovation, social studies, and English as an additional language. According to the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), schools must submit their SEF documents online at least two weeks prior to any scheduled visit or inspection. The announcement follows KHDA's recent approval allowing private schools in Dubai to raise tuition fees for the next academic year, based on an Education Cost Index (ECI) of 2.35 percent. For-profit schools may adjust fees depending on their inspection ratings and the ECI, though any increases apply only for a single academic year and cannot be carried forward. Dubai's education regulator emphasized that while inspections are on hold, maintaining high standards in teaching and student wellbeing remains a top priority. News Source: Khaleej Times
What's On
13-05-2025
- Business
- What's On
CBSE Results 2025 have been released: which gender scored higher?
Written by: Madie Murphy 19 minutes ago So many CBSE 2025 students can breathe a sigh of relief for these results… After lots of nervous waiting from students across the UAE, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the results for the 2025 Class 12 board exams on Tuesday, May 13. The results were revealed and a total of 88.39 per cent of students passed the board exams. 0.41 per cent more students passed since last year. However the girls have come out on top with 91 per cent of them passing the exams, outshining the boys by over 5.94 per cent points as 85.12 per cent of boys passed the exams. The result of Class 10 board exams will also be announced soon so we'll have to wait a little bit longer for those. Each year there is no definite date for release of results so students must wait patiently until the awards are announced. Students can check their results on the official CBSE websites. To access CBSE Results 2025, examinees will need to log in using their roll number, admit card ID, school code, and date of birth. According to reports there are over 80 CBSE-affiliated schools in the UAE. Dubai private schools, specifically the for-profit private schools in the emirate, could see an increase in fees next year as the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has approved an Education Cost Index of 2.35 per cent for the next academic year 2025-2026, Gulf Business has reported. Congratulations to all… > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
