KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s Ministry of Education (MoE) has approved an increase in tuition fees for private Arab and Pakistani schools, effective from the beginning of the current academic year, Arab Times reported on Friday.
The decision aims to regulate tuition fees and clarify the procedures and guidelines governing the operation of private schools.
Under the new decision, private Arab and Pakistani schools charging annual tuition fees between KD250 and KD450 will be allowed to increase their fees by 15 per cent, based on their approved fee structures.
Schools charging KD451 or more will be permitted to increase fees by 10 per cent. The increase can be applied only once, and schools must provide educational services in line with the approved fee increase.
The ministry has also set a mechanism for collecting tuition fees from parents in three equal instalments.
The first instalment, including registration fees, is due during the first week of the student’s attendance. The second instalment is payable during the first week of the second term, in accordance with the academic calendar. The third instalment is due during the first week of the third term for Pakistani schools, also in accordance with the academic calendar.
The decision prohibits schools from increasing fees beyond the approved percentages or changing the due dates, number or value of instalments specified by the ministry.
Schools are also barred from denying students educational services, preventing them from appearing in term or final examinations, expelling them or withholding their results because of unpaid tuition fees during the academic year.
Regarding student transfers during the academic year, a school will be entitled to 50 per cent of the tuition fee if the due date for the first instalment falls while the student is attending classes. However, the full tuition fee will become due if the second instalment falls due while the student is attending classes.
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The decision further states that students who transfer to another school or withdraw from their studies during the academic year remain liable for instalments that become due at the specified times.
