MUSCAT:No parent in Oman would like to compromise on expense for children’s education. Majority are investing a little more than what they could in school fees to offer their children quality education. But are schools trying to cash in on with this trend, especially seen among the expatriate community? 

Parents of students of Indian School Wadi Kabir (ISWK) has submitted a petition to the principal complaining the unjust fee hike after the school hiked fee totaling RO 58 per student annually in the last two years “without any reason”. According to reports, around 200 students submitted the petition to the school principal, DN Rao on Tuesday. However, talking to local English newspaper Muscat Daily, the principal said the hike is nominal. 

No intimation, say parents
The petition states that ISWK is increasing the fee every year without the consent of the parents. “No intimation was circulated to parents and parents’ meeting with the school principal/board of directors was not arranged. For instance, in April 2017, there was RO12 increase. In April 2018, there was another RO12 hike. This year, there will be RO34 increase (as per the fee structure which was published on the ISWK website),” the petition alleges. 

Why pass the burden? 
“In the year 2011, I paid 21 rial for my child and today I am paying close to RO 70-80. I have two children studying here and with the salary we are earning, we cannot afford this hike,” said a parent speaking to Indian television channel Asianet News.

According to another parent, they are forced to bear the additional costs.  “The market conditions are not good and many expats are leaving for good. We are being forced to bear additional costs. If the idea is to improve the quality of education, it is not fair to pass the burden on parents,” a parent told  Muscat Daily.

“If the fee is hiked by RO58 per child within two years, you can imagine the hardship those having two or three children will face. ISWK has increased the fee by RO34 this year alone. Parents of students in ISWK have to pay a difference of RO42 [KGI] to RO142 [Class XII] per year compared to those studying in Indian School Muscat,” the petition states.

Meanwhile, another parent said that they have to pay such a large amount every year. “The market situation is bad. If they increase the fee, how will we survive. The management needs to be more open as far as the fee hike is concerned,” the parent added. 

Principal explain
Explaining the issue to Muscat Daily, Rao, said there are lots of misunderstandings about the fee hike. “The increase is only RO1. As the child gets promoted to higher class, the fee goes up as per the structure. In 2017-18, we increased the fee by RO1 and it was same for 2018-19. This academic year, the management decided to increase it by RO2 per month. This was done in order to support teachers.

“This year we decided to add RO10 per year for the activities that we organise in the school. Earlier, we used to ask parents to contribute as and when there was an event but we decided to have it as RO10 fee per year,” he told Muscat Daily.