Shahd Alhamdan Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — With the new academic year just round the corner, parents' anxieties have grown folds after the Ministry of Education granted permission to private schools to hike their fees. Saudi Gazette spoke to a number of parents who expressed dismay at the hike in school fees, which is in addition to rising costs of basic goods. Majority of the parents do not have any option but to pay the increased fee from next term onwards, or fly back home in the case of expatriates. Haneen Zuhairy, a recruitment consultant, is a mother of two who pays almost SR60,000 for both her children. She said: “We do not have a reaction because no one is listening because they know we need those schools. The increase is too much as compared to the opportunities provided to children in schools.” On the other hand, Duaa Alatrash, a mother of two children, was satisfied with the opportunities provided to children in school but was concerned about the increase in price. She said: “My husband wants his kids to go to a private school as the education in public schools are poor. “The public schools do not have extra-curricular activities except for the required syllabus and books of that particular grade. In my children's school they are getting have access to extra-curricular activities and academic trips.” Expatriate children do not even have the option of putting their children in public schools. Fadya, a mother of four and a housewife, said:”Schools only want to do business, they are competing with each other to raise the fee bar, but are ignoring the fact that from where will the parents get the money to pay such exorbitant amounts. “I can't put my children in public schools because I want them to learn English so I can transfer to their home country for further education.” A teacher and a mother of three girls, on condition of anonymity, said: “My husband and I are together paying the tuition fees of our girls. We do not have a choice, and neither do I have an opinion because it will not change anything. “Unfortunately I can't transfer my children to public schools because they are studying in a school that is using an American diploma system.” Another parent opined that all schools should have a standard tuition fee so that parents can choose the school accordingly.
