Private schools plan to raise transport fees

Jeddah :  Some private school principals in Saudi Arabia have informed parents that they plan to raise fees for transport because of the rise in fuel prices announced by the government late last year.

They stated that several schools had to cancel transport of students living far away because of higher fuel costs. The cost would be increased by about SR200 a semester, according to one estimate quoted by a local daily.

Speaking to the publication Aqeelah Al-Banali, an investor in the education sector, said: “The increase is contingent on the ministry’s approval. Some schools were forced to increase transport fees and had canceled trips to outlying districts because of higher fuel costs.”

Fatima Azaz, the headmistress of a private school, said the increases have not been approved yet but an application has been filed on the ministry’s website. Other types of increases do not require the ministry’s approval, she said.

Khalid Al-Jouaira, chairman of the private education committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the increase would be announced taking inflation into account. “There has been an increase in transport fees because of the Saudization of bus driver jobs and the economic situation.” 

Saeed Al-Bahes, spokesman for the Eastern Province education department, said there are clear guidelines on the fees hike as stated on the ministry’s website. All schools will have to wait for the ministry’s approval to raise any fees, he said.

“We are waiting for the ministerial circular in this regard to notify all schools. We cannot raise fees without the approval of the ministry ... otherwise schools will be in violation of the stipulated regulations.”

The ministry issued an order late last year that made it compulsory for private schools to seek approval before raising fees, after an outcry from parents about exorbitant costs. A school that receives ministerial approval cannot raise fees for two years.