Do not involve students in financial issues: Official Okaz/Saudi Gazette DAMMAM – Some private schools in Al-Khobar and Dammam have suspended students whose parents have been unable to pay the tuition fee on time, in spite of the parents signing undertakings that they would pay the outstanding amount in a couple of weeks. The parents told Okaz/Saudi Gazette on Sunday that the schools wanted them to pay the full tuition fee for the new semester along with the outstanding amount. “They even asked us not to bring our kids to school because they wouldn't let them enter. So we didn't take our children to school,” the parents said. Other private schools have an installment plan and accept tuition fee in form of monthly payments, the parents said while calling upon the Ministry of Education to step in and ask schools not to get students involved in financial matters, especially when parents have already promised to pay the fee in a few months time. Mahmoud Al-Diri, Assistant Director-General of Sharqiya Department of Education, said: “Any private school may claim its financial rights without disrupting the student's study. If the school wants to suspend a student over failure of his parent to pay tuition fees, it should first send the parent a letter to this effect one month before the school begins. The Department of Education will transfer the student to a public school and will follow up with the payment claim.” But if the school decides to suspend a student without sending a prior notification, the parent can notify the Department of Education through a letter. The department will then take necessary measures to resolve the issue, Al-Diri added. Al-Diri reiterated the importance of not involving students in financial issues. __
