No rise in school bus fees without approval

Private schools are not authorized to raise bus transport fees with obtaining approval from the Ministry of Education and those doing so will be punished, a senior Ministry official was reported on Thursday as saying.

But the country’s private schools are not obliged to provide bus transport to their students inside and outside the areas where they are located, said Ali Al Suwaidi, the Ministry’s assistant undersecretary for private education.

Quoted by Dubai-based Arabic language daily Emarat Alyoum, he said private schools in the UAE are not permitted to raise any fees even by “one percent” without prior consent  by the Ministry in line with education laws.

“Schools are not allowed to raise bus transport fees or any other schools fees…those who violate this rule will be severely punished…we call on students’ families to contact the ministry on its hotline to report any offence by schools,” he said.

But he added that private schools are not obliged to provide bus services to their students in all areas, adding that there will be no penalties in this respect.

Emarat Alyoum said Suwaidi was reacting to complaints by students’ parents that some schools have decided to increase bus transport fees.

It said parents were told by one school that bus fees have been raised from Dh2,800 to Dh3,500 in the current school year.

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