Schools need Dh12,000 per child to be run effectively: Gems' Varkey

Sunny Varkey, founder of Gems Education, which runs the largest number of schools in the UAE, believes that schools need at least Dh12,000 per child every year to be run effectively.

“If somebody needs to open a new school, the fees must not be less than Dh12,000 per annum average, because the cost of the rent of land and utilities must be taken into account.

“I would say about Dh12,000 upwards per annum for an Asian curriculum and Dh18,000 upwards for the English curriculum [is needed]."

Last year, Gems had to close Westminster School in Dubai, which charged around Dh10,000 per annum, stating that funds were insufficient to run the school.

In an interview with ‘Gulf Business’, Varkey said: "It’s normal human behaviour [for parents] to defend fees. But parents can very well see which are the schools that are good, outstanding, fair, or not good. And, accordingly, they can choose a school.

“Dubai is a place where, depending on your financial resources, you can choose a school model. If you want to choose a school that is $10,000, you have it. If you want to send your children to a school that is $3,000, you have it.”

In fact, Varkey reasoned that inflation forced education companies to increase fees.

According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), schools that are rated ‘outstanding’ and ‘good’ by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) can chalk out an increase for the coming academic year.

“Provided they make additions to existing buildings; improve educational facilities such as laboratories and libraries; invest in property in order to expand; renovate, demolish or rebuild existing buildings or floors; build additional branches of an existing school; relocate to a new building for the benefit of teaching and learning; or undertake tangible development that improves the quality of education they offer, including provision for special education needs students,” the KHDA had highlighted.

According to their records, 17 Dubai schools have already been approved for a fee hike for 2013-14.

GEMS education runs around 100 schools across 19 countries.

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