In 2012, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) of Dubai introduced the School Fees Framework.

The Objective? To protect students and parents, and create a favourable environment for the private investors in the education sector.

The Education Cost Index (ECI) linked school fee hikes to inspections by the Dubai School Inspection Bureau. There were several parameters including learning outcomes. In this way, schools were rewarded for better performance.

After inspection, schools would be placed in categories. Very weak, Weak, Acceptable, Good, Very Good, Outstanding. For example, if a school managed the same rating as the previous year, they could hike the fees for that year. The percentage of fees hike was dependent upon the categories, and present fees. If the school was regulated to a lower rank, the fees hike was out of the question.

This worked beautifully as most schools showed an upward transition between 2012-13 and 2017-18. Seems like a win for everyone involved. Isn’t it?

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