The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai has recently announced that private schools will not be eligible for tuition fees hike for the academic year 2020 to 2021.
The KHDA announcement followed the release of the annual Education Cost Index (ECI).
According to the KHDA guidelines, private schools' decision to hike the fees depends upon the inspection results and ECI results. If the ECI is zero or below zero, schools cannot increase the fees.
With the ECI at -2.35 per cent, the school fees for 2020 to 2021 will remain the same as the previous academic year.
However, some private schools will be eligible to increase the fees based on clear eligibility criteria as outlined in KHDA’s exceptional fee framework guidelines.
Over the last seven years, 72 new schools have opened in Dubai, and more than 70,000 additional students have enrolled. It accounts for a 31 per cent increase in the number of students attending private schools in Dubai.