School fee hike shelved

Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has directed to drop the increase in private school fees in the Kingdom, a BNA release quoting Education Minister Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi said. 

The Royal directive comes against the backdrop of an earlier decision by the Education Ministry allowing “high-performing schools” to increase fees by five per cent. Schools rated “good” or “excellent” were allowed to hike the fee, said a January 18  BNA release. 

His Majesty’s directive has come as a huge relief for parents. “At the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, there will be no increase in the fees of the private schools,” Education Minister Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi said. 

In the light of the Royal directives, the Ministry has issued a circular to all private schools to immediately halt any increase in school fees adding that the remuneration in high performing schools would be defrayed from other resources and will not be borne by parents of students in the form of any increase on school fees. Bahrain has 73 privately-owned educational establishments of which 14 private schools are rated as high-performing.  Meanwhile, Education Minister Dr. Al Nuaimi hailed the Royal directives and confirmed that the Ministry has already begun its implementation of His Majesty’s directives to halt the fee hike. 

Schools wishing to hike fees will have to provide clear justifications supported by documents which will be verified by the directorate, BNA said, quoting   minister.