Parents ask who is in charge of regulating rates of outsourced companies
Dubai: A hike in school bus fees has left parents asking who regulates the amount charged by outsourced companies.
Parents voiced their concern after a private school in Dubai more than doubled its school bus fees from Dh2,400 to Dh5,000 per year.
Agha Shoaib, the father of two children who go to Pristine Private School, told Gulf News that he was told of the increase via a circular sent to parents.
"They informed us through a circular they sent out stating that they had doubled the price of the bus fees and they said that the reason for the increase was because they had outsourced to another company," Shoaib said.
"My concern is who guarantees that they won't sign another contract and increase the prices even further?
"I contacted the RTA [Roads and Transport Authority] and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority -- however they both stated that they were not in charge of regulating bus fee increases. I do not know who else to turn to."
The school states on its website that it has recently contracted Progressive Transport to provide transportation services to and from various parts of Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.
"We did not increase the fees but we have outsourced to a transportation company registered in Dubai because the school's bus fleet has increased considerably from around 10 to 22 buses. The company has its own fixed charges which depend on the market needs," said a spokesperson from Pristine Private School.
Gulf News also spoke to the outsourced company's coordinator, Fatima. S., of Progressive Transport, who said the fees were based on a fixed rating and that the Dh5,000 fee was in fact cheap when compared with many other schools in Dubai.
"I understand that the parents would be upset about the increase, however, this is the rate of our company and it is considered much cheaper than many other schools in Dubai. We are offering many services that are up to the RTA's standards as well as facilities that the school was not offering, such as cameras and GPS, that will ensure their children's safety that add to the cost," she added.
Gulf News contacted RTA's Mohammad Abdullah Al Ali, director of buses at the authority, who said: "We are not responsible for fee increases by outsourced companies. Our job, however, is to ensure that the buses conform to the regulations and standards of the RTA."
The KHDA also said the responsibility does not lie with it: "The KHDA can only regulate the services offered by education providers that it licenses/permits. Anything not licensed/permitted by the KHDA cannot be under their remit or control. We are, however, working with other government authorities to arrive at a method of regulating all fees in accordance with the consumer protection regulations," said Mohammad Darwish, Chief of Regulations and Compliance Commission at KHDA.
Parents with children at the school said they believe outsourcing to another company is another form of increasing fees.
"As per the KHDA's regulation, the school cannot increase its fees, however, by increasing other fees such as buses they are finding a loophole," said Abbas, a father of two.
Syed Mohammad, also a father of two, agreed, saying: "The main issue here is who do we go to if both the KHDA and RTA are dodging responsibility. Tomorrow they can increase the fees by Dh5,000 and who will stop them?"
© Gulf News 2013
