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Saudi Arabia: High student fees forced 300,000 expats to quit
| Published: | 28 Dec at 10 AM |
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The high price of education at private schools in Saudi Arabia has forced more than 300,000 foreign students to quit as their parents cannot afford the fees.
Education expert Malek Al-Ghamdi explained that as expat students were not accepted in government schools, their only option was private schools. However, he noted, that as these private schools were now charging in excess of SR25,000 per year, many parents do not have the money to send their children there anymore.
Al-Ghamdi, formerly a private schools’ committee member at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, revealed that there had been a 20-30 per cent hike in fees at international schools this year, which had led to many parents pulling their children from them.
Furthermore, a large number of parents are claiming that there has also been no improvement despite the price increases. One parent explained that when he asked why his child’s school fees were going up, he was simply told that it was because all schools were doing it. Another parent - Egyptian Adel Hassan, who has three sons at a private school - revealed that it was now costing him an extra SR17,000 per year for their education.
The Saudi Ministry of Education has recently approved a new system on private school tuition fees based on the institution’s building, education services and facilities.
Education expert Malek Al-Ghamdi explained that as expat students were not accepted in government schools, their only option was private schools. However, he noted, that as these private schools were now charging in excess of SR25,000 per year, many parents do not have the money to send their children there anymore.
Al-Ghamdi, formerly a private schools’ committee member at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, revealed that there had been a 20-30 per cent hike in fees at international schools this year, which had led to many parents pulling their children from them.
Furthermore, a large number of parents are claiming that there has also been no improvement despite the price increases. One parent explained that when he asked why his child’s school fees were going up, he was simply told that it was because all schools were doing it. Another parent - Egyptian Adel Hassan, who has three sons at a private school - revealed that it was now costing him an extra SR17,000 per year for their education.
The Saudi Ministry of Education has recently approved a new system on private school tuition fees based on the institution’s building, education services and facilities.
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