Abdullah Al-Ghamdi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

 

RIYADH — The Riyadh Education Directorate has prohibited private schools, international schools, and community schools from raising tuition fees without its approval.



Riyadh Education Acting Director Mohammad Al-Murshid said that those schools planning to increase their tuition fees must apply to the directorate by March 19 through its website https://fef.moe.gov.sa. The head of the Private and Foreign Education Department Saleh Al-Turaif said that applying for an increase in tuition is a lengthy process.



“School owners must first apply through the website. Then the education directorate looks into the applications and ensures that they meet the Ministry of Education’s regulations. The next step is for the shortlisted applications to be reviewed by the preparatory committee at the Ministry of Education. Finally the committee presents the applications received to the main committee to issue the decision,” said Al-Turaif.



He said schools must update their information on Noor portal before submitting their request for a hike in tuition fees.



“Those schools whose request for an increase in tuition fees was either partially or completely approved for the academic year 2013-2014 should not apply for another increase until the academic year 2016-2017,” Al-Turaif said.



It has been reported that many private schools exorbitantly raise their tuition fees every academic year putting a strain on parents.