MoE warns schools over textbooks charge

The Ministry of Education has warned private schools teaching the national curriculum not to overcharge for textbooks after receiving complaints from parents about inflated prices. The warning came after "several" parents informed the Ministry that private schools were profiting off the sale of textbooks by hiding the price printed on the jacket and charging higher amounts. The Ministry did not say how many schools were found to be overcharging parents, nor did they release the names of offending schools. They also did not say whether schools caught overcharging for books were penalised, nor have they said if schools that continue to do so will be penalised in the future. The Ministry issued a list of textbook prices yesterday. There are 97 Ministry textbooks and teaching guides for grades one through twelve. Prices for textbooks range from three and a half dirhams to nine and a half dirhams. A social studies book for grade one costs Dh4.50 while a grade 12 economics book costs Dh9.50. Teachers guides cost between thirty and sixty-five dirhams. [e-mail]