Parents have welcomed a freeze on tuition fees in Dubai - but an expert warns schools face a battle to maintain standards of education against a backdrop of an "alarming" rise in costs.
The Dubai Executive Council ordered this week that fees at private schools across the city would not to be increased for the forthcoming academic year in order to reduce the financial burden on parents.
It is the first time that tuition fees at private schools in Dubai have not risen since 2013.
In February, The National reported that more than 20 Dubai schools had lowered or frozen fees. Repton School Dubai and Foremarke School Dubai announced a reduction of around 10 per cent while Horizon International School slashed its fees by 33 per cent.
Judith Finnemore, managing consultant of Focal Pont Management Consultancy and a governor of a school in Dubai, believes that the quality of education could be impacted by the freeze in fees.
Ms Finnemore said: “I understand parents are being hit financially and this will be welcome for them. As a school governor, I also sympathise with schools. The cost of administration, materials and day-to-day running costs is rising, in some case quite alarmingly. If schools have to find the money for those rising costs, where is this to come from?
"Many schools are running on very tight margins and they simply do not have the reserves to sit back and absorb the rising costs. If schools are forced to run on a deficit budget, they will cut services and quality will suffer for pupils."
She feels that “maybe the fee freeze should have been for those high-cost schools rather than those charging very modest fees.”
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Read more:
No increase to private school fees in Dubai
More than 20 Dubai schools freeze or lower fees
Dubai school fees fall by up to 15 per cent
_______
Schools in Dubai vary widely when it comes to fees. Repton School, for example, charges Dh 95,000 for year 12 and 13 while Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistani School-Dubai charges Dh 6,259 for year 12.
Ms Finnemore says the demand is for more affordable schools as many companies are choosing not to fully pay for their employees' children's school fees.
Ayesha Umair, a Pakistani parent living in Dubai, said: “My husband's company doesn't sponsor our children's education, so it is a relief that tuition fees have been frozen. Currently, my five-year-old son is attending school but next year, we are enrolling our daughter. With the fee freeze we are benefiting.”
“Basic tuition fees do not include bus fees, and several activities conducted in school. This decision from the government provides some relief, if not a lot,” said Elizabeth Jacob, an Indian mother of a seven-year-old in Dubai.
Clementina Kongslund, an expatriate living in Dubai, who has two children studying at GEMS School, is curious to see how he news will affect the school's budget and teacher salaries.
Maryum Rizvi, an expatriate mum living in Dubai, added: "In the scenario of ever increasing costs, I welcome this decision and am happy that an increase in our expenditure will not happen."
Rashmi Nandkeolyar, the principal and director of Delhi Private School in Dubai, said: “Parents will be extremely pleased to hear that there is no fee hike this year. We have been getting requests for fee waivers in the past. As an Indian school though things are going to be tough. We take pride in managing with the resources that we have and we always do very well. That will continue to be so."
The UAE is one of the biggest international private school markets in the world. A 2017 KHDA report revealed that there are 195 private schools in Dubai with nearly 274,000 pupils.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The%20specs
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
BeIN Sports currently has the rights to show
- Champions League
- English Premier League
- Spanish Primera Liga
- Italian, French and Scottish leagues
- Wimbledon and other tennis majors
- Formula One
- Rugby Union - Six Nations and European Cups
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Results
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3%20Body%20Problem
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)