RIYADH — The recent royal decision defining the system of the tuition fees at private schools invalidates any increase in schools fees by private schools in the Kingdom unless it is approved by the Ministry of Education, said Muhammad Al-Otaibi, Director General of Private and Foreign Education at the Ministry of Education. Al-Otaibi said the ministry is now working on a draft law defining the criteria under which the private schools fix tuition fees. This must also be approved by the ministry. He rejected rumors that the determination of tuition fees by the ministry will force many private education investors to withdraw from the sector. He pointed that the ministry has taken effective measures to enhance investment in the sector and encourage investors by extending loans to them. Al-Otaibi said one of the significant measures for the determination of school fees is the standard of education, teachers' salaries and infrastructure. He added that the new measures are designed to lighten the financial burden on parents. — SG
