UAE Schools Offer Flexible Fee Plans for Parents Hit by Job Loss and Salary Cuts
While some families in the UAE face increasing financial pressure as the US-Israel-Iran conflict continues, schools in the country say they are responding with flexible payment plans, an open dialogue and bespoke arrangements designed to allow parents who need help keeping up fee commitments without jeopardising their children’s education.
The topic has been reignited after celebrity radio star Kris Fade vented his frustrations over the way a school charged his family for unpaid fees.
Fade made a video recently addressing a suspension notice his daughters’ school sent, claiming they could be suspended for three days due to their Term 3 fees not being paid. He emphasised that Terms 1 and 2 had already been agreed, but said it wasn't a case of not wanting to pay; the communications style was the problem.
His remarks resonated in the ears of many parents struggling with school fees, on top of:
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Job uncertainty
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Unpaid leave
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Rising household pressures
Schools defend that it also must fulfil obligations to pay salaries, keep the campus running and provide quality education, and charging a fee is a fundamental part of managing an institution effectively.
Schools Stress Empathy and Dialogue
Back to school: schools are informed that many institutions already engage directly with parents experiencing temporary hardship.
Commenting on the current crisis, GEMS Education Group CEO Dino Varkey added that schools are prioritising "continuity, stability and wellbeing of students" while supporting families going through economic difficulty.
They talk about being engaged with families in ongoing conversations, streamlined payment plans and support pathways that are intended to alleviate immediate pressure while supporting the rich learning experience of each child.
Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and “delicately”, as no two family scenarios are alike.
GEMS families are additionally able to access mechanisms that enable monthly instalment plans in order to provide additional flexibility where required. If additional support is required, the GEMS schools may direct families to broader within-the-community programs.
He also said that “we understand that many families may face short-term income challenges, and believe that early intervention, open dialogue and constructive conversations are key to achieving sustainable solutions”.
He reiterated that, "Education requires long-term partnership and trust between schools and families." “Our job isn’t just to uphold the high standards with which we want all pupils to learn and our schools run, but also to have these conversations with empathy, sensitivity and understanding.
Monthly Instalments and Flexible Arrangements
Asmal Ahmed, CEO of Woodlem Education, said the group's payment structure is already set up to be less burdensome on families — as there are no substantial upfront payments involved.
Ahmed said, “Instead, the entire process of fee payment is set in permutation with minimal monthly instalments to make it relatively prosperous and feasible for families.”
He said this approach will help parents:
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Manage financial commitments more comfortably
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Protect yourself from hefty, up-front payment pressure:
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Ensure uninterrupted education for students
Swiss International Scientific School Dubai, for instance, has stressed that those of its parents struggling should feel free to approach the school and have an open conversation.
The school maintains an approach of "open dialogue, empathy, and understanding,” according to Femees Vala Kettil, the school's finance manager.
"We agree flexible payment instalment plans with families, where that is required, and make sure they can have more direct chats — face to face or on the phone so concerns are responded to in a sensitive and constructive way".
Families seeking assistance are offered flexible instalment plans and concerns in this regard are handled through “personal meetings or calls” to keep the conversation constructive.
Meanwhile, Kettil said that schools still need to keep up “clear and transparent communication around fee obligations,” especially as delayed payments can impact:
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Report cards
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Transfers
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Re-enrolment processes
The views of school leaders also indent the overarching stance maintained by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, which has for some time been urging schools to be open with families but at the same time uphold fee obligations.
New rules by Dubai's education regulator read: "Tuition fees are payable for any period when the service was provided and delivered, even where such a service is provided through distance learning or other alternative methods considered appropriate and approved by KHDA."
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