28 May 2013
RIYADH - Private schools in the Kingdom will no longer be allowed to have a fee hike during an academic year, according to a draft bylaw approved on Monday by the Shoura Council.
The bylaw clearly specifies that private schools should fix the tuition fee at least four months before the start of a new academic year, and there should be a mechanism for the fee collection in line with the regulations set by the Ministry of Education.
The bylaw to regulate the functioning of private schools in the Kingdom was approved at the session, chaired by its President Sheikh Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al-Sheikh.
Dr. Fahaad Al-Hamad, assistant chairman of the Council, said that there is a provision in the bylaw under which citizens from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states will be granted license to open private schools in the Kingdom.
He said that an overwhelming majority of members approved the bylaw, read out by Prince Khaled Bin Abdullah, Chairman of the Committee for the Affairs of Education and Scientific Research.
The Council demanded setting up of an Agency for Private Education at the ministry and that will be linked to the Deputy Minister.
Dr. Al-Hamad said that there is a new article added to the bylaw by which the government will extend financial support to private schools to the tune of SR2,000 per each Saudi student and the amount will be doubled if the student is a person with special needs.
This aid will be given to only those schools that follow the ministry's syllabus, and own buildings that are specially designed for schools.
The conditions also include a student ratio not exceeding 1: 25, and the percentage of Saudization should be more than 80 percent.
The ministry will review the financial support decision every three year. The bylaw also calls for formation of the Private Education Council, and a Parents Council at each school, besides working out the required criteria by the ministry to classify private schools in accordance with their quality and standard.
RIYADH - Private schools in the Kingdom will no longer be allowed to have a fee hike during an academic year, according to a draft bylaw approved on Monday by the Shoura Council.
The bylaw clearly specifies that private schools should fix the tuition fee at least four months before the start of a new academic year, and there should be a mechanism for the fee collection in line with the regulations set by the Ministry of Education.
The bylaw to regulate the functioning of private schools in the Kingdom was approved at the session, chaired by its President Sheikh Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al-Sheikh.
Dr. Fahaad Al-Hamad, assistant chairman of the Council, said that there is a provision in the bylaw under which citizens from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states will be granted license to open private schools in the Kingdom.
He said that an overwhelming majority of members approved the bylaw, read out by Prince Khaled Bin Abdullah, Chairman of the Committee for the Affairs of Education and Scientific Research.
The Council demanded setting up of an Agency for Private Education at the ministry and that will be linked to the Deputy Minister.
Dr. Al-Hamad said that there is a new article added to the bylaw by which the government will extend financial support to private schools to the tune of SR2,000 per each Saudi student and the amount will be doubled if the student is a person with special needs.
This aid will be given to only those schools that follow the ministry's syllabus, and own buildings that are specially designed for schools.
The conditions also include a student ratio not exceeding 1: 25, and the percentage of Saudization should be more than 80 percent.
The ministry will review the financial support decision every three year. The bylaw also calls for formation of the Private Education Council, and a Parents Council at each school, besides working out the required criteria by the ministry to classify private schools in accordance with their quality and standard.
© The Saudi Gazette 2013
