Okaz / Saudi Gazette TAIF — A number of international and private schools are circumventing the Education Ministry rules against fee hike, according to ministry's sources. The sources said many schools charge as much as SR1,000 for opening a registration file. They also charge parents in the name of new activities such as swimming, karate and other sports. Many schools force parents to buy textbooks, notebooks and uniforms from them at exorbitantly high prices. The ministry has opened a website for parents to complain against fee hike under any pretext, the sources said. It promised to review every single complaint, investigate the school and reimburse the additional amount of money if it has not been approved by the ministry. The sources said the ministry has made it clear to all private and international schools to stick to the fee structure approved by the ministry. It also asked them to inform the parents in writing of any increase in fees. The sources said the ministry will stop increase in tuition and any other fees if they are not already approved by it. According to the sources, the school fees paid by the parents include all educational services provided to students, consisting of sport activities, except transport. They said when it receives a request from any school to increase fees, the ministry carefully studies the request under certain parameters including school performance, its Saudization percentage and its implementation of the royal decree calling for salary increase for Saudi teachers.
