Ajman: Sixty-seven schools in Ajman are allowed to increase tuition fees by up to 30 per cent under a new cap set by Ajman Educational Zone. “The allowed fee increase is not proportionate to the cost increase. Hence, over time, schools need to upgrade the school building and infrastructure, resources, IT facilities, recruiting better teachers and so on. Ajman Ministry of Education and Youth and Ajman Educational Zone develop an integrated educational plan to offer a better quality of schooling,” Ali Hassan, Deputy Director of Ajman Educational Zone, said.

Ajman Educational Zone limits those increases in the case of significant cost rises.

“Ajman Ministry of Education and the Educational Zone form a committee to study the increase in fee requests it receives from schools and the new facilities they will offer in return.”

Mohammad Ali Obaid, a father of two, said, “The recent decision by Ajman Ministry of Education hikes the tuition fees. Besides school fees, the school is charging extra money under various heads like quality fee, activity fee, extra sports fee.”

“The decision aims to achieve social and economic goals reflected in the provision of education fees that should be acceptable for students and parents,” Hassan said.

He added that specialised committees visit schools, which submitted requests for an increase in fees, to check whether these schools offer appropriate conditions and better education techniques, and good facilities in school buildings.

Textbooks have been distributed to schools to be delivered in packs and will be in the hands of students from the first day of the school year. The committee for the distribution of books calculated the number of pupils in public and private schools that follow the ministerial platform to secure the numbers needed without showing any deficit, and the committee has prepared meeting room in Ajman Educational Zone to receive feedback from schools.

Hassan urged all schools in Ajman to activate the morning queue and school radio broadcast to boost the spirit of belonging and loyalty to the homeland and its leadership, and he stressed the need to adhere to attendance school and securing school supplies. He also urged parents to emphasise the importance of regular attendance to their children from the first day of school and also keep up with developments in the educational process.

Nawal Al Ramahi is a trainee at Gulf News