The Ministry of Education is introducing new rules to prevent private schools from raising their fees without its prior approval, says a top official.

The new plan will be implemented from next year, said Sarah Al-Essa, director of the private and international education department in the Eastern Province.

She made the announcement during her meeting with a group of investors in Dammam.

“Schools in the Eastern Province have submitted their applications and the ministry is likely respond to their requests soon,” she said.

She warned that any school that raised its fees before gaining the ministry’s approval could face action.

Al-Essa also said a ministerial committee was now studying the possibility of setting a cap on private school fees.

“Some schools are asking for a 100-percent increase in their fees but the ministry only allows 10 percent,” she said.

Al-Essa said the ministry would give its green light for fee increase requests after assessing various criteria.

They include the building’s condition, furniture, safety equipment, professional development provided to staff, information technology, electronic learning and facilities provided for students.

The school’s curriculum development and other measures will also be taken into consideration.

She acknowledged that investors in private education also faced many challenges in meeting municipality requirements.

She warned that schools that used buildings meant for residential purposes would not receive safety certificates.

They should provide a minimum space of 900 sq meters for kindergarten, 2,500 sq meters for elemetry schools, 5,000 sq meters for intermediate levels and 7,500 sq meters for high schools, she explained.