Pakistani schools are being privatised, fees may go up

[shahul]

DUBAI - Even as Pakistani community schools in the UAE say they are on the "fast track" to privatisation, in accordance with the UAE Ministry of Education's directive, parents of children studying in these schools may have to brace for fee hikes ranging from seven to 15 per cent in the new academic year.

Principals of these schools said they were finally hopeful of changing the status from embassy-affiliated institutions to private schools by the end of the month. This may also mean more benefits to teachers and better teaching standards, they said.

In September 2006, the Ministry of Education issued a notice directing all community schools run under different diplomatic missions to have local sponsors. The new private education bylaws of the ministry state that a private school should have a "citizen owner" or an Emirati owner, who controls 51 per cent stakes in the school if it has to be licensed.

The newly appointed Pakistani Consul-General in Dubai, Dr Saeed Khan, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of his country had approved the suggestions sent by the mission to resolve the matter, including structural changes, registrations and sponsorships. "We hope to complete the official formalities within a month," he added.

He also said besides the UAE nationals, Pakistanis, too, had sponsored four schools each in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

Asma Malik, principal of His Highness Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School, Dubai, emphasised that privatising the schools was their top priority. "We have a new local sponsor for our school and the Dubai's education authority has given a letter of approval to change the sponsor," she said.

The school had increased the tuition fees of Grades VI, VII and VIII students by nine per cent in the last academic year and again plans to increase fees by seven per cent for the new academic year, commencing this September.

Zahid Hussain, principal of Pakistan Islamia Higher Secondary School, Sharjah, stressed, "Parents do not have to worry as their wards' education will be uninterrupted. Things are in progress and I am certain our status will be changed very soon."

However, the principal added that the school, which charges between Dh3,000 and Dh5,000 annually per student in fees, will increase the fees by 10 to 15 per cent.

"If we want to increase the teachers' salaries, the fees will have to be hiked, irrespective of the school's decision to change its status," said Hussain.

The decision is also applicable to two other schools - Pakistan Higher Secondary School, Ras Al Khaimah, and Pakistan Islamia School, Fujairah.