The Delhi Public School in Riyadh has increased fees for the current term by at least 20 percent. Such an exorbitant fee hike is totally uncalled for. We do agree that back in India the name Delhi Public School has a brand equity, which is equally matched by teaching standards and facilities offered. In DPS Riyadh there is absolutely no value for money. The DPS school in Riyadh just collects exorbitant fees without providing facilities. The array of fees collected includes development fund, medical fee, magazine & bulletin fee, audio-visual fee, stationery fee, activity fee, sports fee, laboratory fee and computer fee.

Fees are also collected in the name of providing computer education to students of all grades. In reality, the computer teacher teaches from the book without imparting practical computer training, as there are hardly two computers in a classroom. How on earth can all the children in a classroom be given practical training with such a limited number of computers? Children are made to learn computers by reading books — totally unheard of. The school library does not have enough books, which can enable the students to build their reading habits. Instead, the school has become a hub for private organizations that market their books to be bought by the children at extra costs. These books are published in UAE and marketed through these schools. Gullible parents are forced to shell out extra cash, all in the name of developing their wards. The school organizes no extracurricular activity. No physical education for the children. The school agenda very proudly states music period, with no music teacher for years. Classrooms are crowded. There is muted reaction by the parents since the school knows that most of the parents who enroll their kids get the schooling expenses paid by their companies. This by no means gives DPS the authority to fleece parents with such a fee hike.

I would request the Ministry of Education to intervene and force the school to roll back such a fee hike.

An aggrieved parent

Riyadh