Dubai: Complaints about school fees and teacher conduct were the most common complaints received by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) during the 2014-15 academic year.

The authority revealed that of the 1,498 complaints received in 2014-15, the majority were about schools fees.

This comes as no surprise as a KHDA report published earlier this year reported that private school fees can cost up to Dh98,679 per year and that 61 per cent of parents pay more than Dh10,000 per annum.

The second most common complaint received by the KHDA was about teachers’ conduct while the third was health and safety.

Issues related to school-parent relations, student admission, school communication and school administration affairs followed respectively.

Amal Bel Hasa, Chief of Compliance and Resolutions Commission (CRC) of KHDA, said upon receiving students/parents related disputes through one of the authority’s various channels (phone, KHDA-Info, KHDA feedback system, walk-in customers), the CRC will be notified in order to begin an investigation.

“The CRC will communicate with all the involved parties and conduct an on-site visit if required in order to ensure that all relevant information and evidence are collected. Based on the evidence collected CRC will then proceed to make a decision ensuring that the welfare of everyone involved is taken into account. Upon resolving the matter, an official communication will be sent to all involved parties.”

Amal said in addition to processing the complaint the KHDA also introduced a legally binding contract between parents and schools last year, which will be introduced in all private schools in Dubai starting from September.

The Parent-School Contract aims to reduce disputes between parents and schools by outlining each party’s rights and responsibilities.

“The contract outlines the expectations and responsibilities of both parties, protects their rights, and serves as a reference guide for solving any misunderstandings that may arise. KHDA will consistently refer to the contract for its decision making,” said Amal.

The contract includes clauses on school fees, extra-curricular charges, attendance, assessment, dispute resolution and anti-bullying policy, among others.

Jordanian parent Maram Basel was not surprised that fee-related complaints were the most common complaint.

“School fees are truly burdening and they just keep increasing. I never filled a complaint to the KHDA myself because I think that is just what education costs here,” she said.

An Egyptian mother of three said she plans on complaining about the type of detentions her children receive.

“My children’s school is too strict. I am not against disciplining students but having an hour and a half after-school detention is too much for a grade six child,” she said.