Irtiqaa results show improvement in the performance of 27 private schools in Abu Dhabi

Parents demand to prevent school fees from being increased. Its performance is acceptable and poor

The education cost index is calculated in cooperation with Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi. From the source

Parents of students called for reconsidering the increase in fees for schools that have not achieved progress in their academic level, based on the results of the last two rounds of the "Irtiqaa" program, in addition to preventing schools with an acceptable and poor rating from increasing their fees.

In detail, the results of the "Irtiqaa" program for inspection of private schools showed an improvement in the level of performance and quality of private schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as the number of schools with an outstanding rating increased from nine schools in 2020 to 11 schools in 2022, and schools with a very good rating achieved progress from 23 schools to 38 schools, and schools with good ratings increased from 73 schools to 83 schools, while the number of schools with an acceptable rating decreased from 85 schools to 62 schools. Emirates Today monitored the reactions of parents of students on social media about the approved structure decision to optionally increase tuition fees for the academic year 2023-2024, as many of them wondered why schools that provide poor and acceptable education were allowed to increase their tuition fees, in addition to why schools that have not been able to improve their rating since the last evaluation were allowed to increase their fees.

They called on ADEK to discuss the issue with parents, determine the reasons for raising tuition fees transparently and clearly, publish qualitative reports on the performance of schools wishing to raise fees, and clarify where this increase will be directed and why. They pointed to the danger of education turning into a profitable commercial sector. The parents of other students stressed that allowing schools that provide acceptable or poor education to increase their fees encourages them to continue at the same level instead of increasing their efforts to raise their efficiency, as they now guarantee their profits, noting that the department had previously stopped registering new students in schools with poor performance, to force them to improve their educational outcomes.

The participants in the discussions pointed out that school fees are already exaggerated and the level of education in many schools does not amount to the high fees collected, pointing out that motivating schools to improve performance and educational outcomes should not be at the expense of students' parents, as the provision of quality education must be achieved and made available at acceptable fees, after tuition fees have become a significant financial burden on families.

ADEK's decision to allow schools to increase their tuition fees was to halt the increase for the past three academic years, in order to support parents during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She pointed out that for the fifth consecutive year, it conducted an evaluation of tuition fees, where it approved the rates of increase in tuition fees based on the results of the cost of education index, which is calculated in cooperation with the Statistics Center - Abu Dhabi, and developed the structure of the increase according to the classification of each school in the "Irtiqaa" program for evaluating schools, pointing out that there are conditions for schools to be able to increase their fees, including that the school has completed three years since the beginning of its operations, and that it adheres to the structure of the fees set for it.