Shifting schools? Pay withdrawal fee

Dubai - Think twice before changing your child's school, as private schools in Dubai can demand a 'withdrawal fee' if a student decides to leave the school during the academic year.

Muaz Shabandri

Published: Mon 8 Oct 2012, 11:53 PM

Last updated: Tue 12 Oct 2021, 5:06 PM

“Deposits and fees will not be refunded if students choose not to return to school for the next academic year or choose not to take the offered places,” reads a clause in the School Fees Framework issued by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in April this year.

Khaleej Times investigated the fee refund clause to help parents understand the rules. Schools are allowed to charge withdrawal fees from a student who discontinues school during the academic year.

For example, if a student has attended school for one semester and decides to change the school later, he or she would have to pay three months’ fees as a penalty.

However, it must be noted that the rule would not affect any student who has genuine reasons for changing schools. Also, some schools in Dubai do not charge students any withdrawal fees.

Exceptions to the rule can be made if there is “evidence of family travel to another country, (or) a move to another Emirate or any unforeseen circumstances. Such cases can be referred to the KHDA for study.”

Parents unaware of the change in rules have been caught off-guard as one parent confirmed paying more than Dh7,000 as a ‘withdrawal fee’.

“I was surprised when the school refused to return post-dated cheques even after securing a transfer certificate. The school asked me to pay an additional three months fee, citing the rules issued by KHDA,” said the parent.

The parent had no choice but to pay an additional three-month tuition and transport fee, although the child had not attended a single class for the new term and had obtained the transfer certificate.

“It does not make sense to pay transport fees for three months as the child has never used the bus after leaving the school. We wouldn’t have changed the school if we were aware of this clause,” added the disappointed parent.

Khaleej Times even obtained some of the receipts confirming the payment of withdrawal fees by the parent to an Indian school.

A senior official from KHDA confirmed the changes in fee refund policies. Mohammed Darwish, Chief of Regulations and Compliance Commission at KHDA said: “The recently released School Fees Framework does have a section that focuses on refund of fees. Both schools and parents have rights and responsibilities to fulfill. This section of the framework aims to ensure that both fulfill these rights and responsibilities.”

He also hinted that the number of dispute cases were ‘negligible’.

It may be noted that some schools in Dubai also charge fees for obtaining admission forms, with some parents having to pay as much as Dh500 non-refundable fees to seek a form. Such fees are not yet regulated by the KHDA.

What is the fee refund policy?

If the student attends school for two weeks or less, a month’s fees will be deducted.
If the student attends school for a period ranging between two weeks and one month, two months’ fees will be deducted.
If the student attends for more than a month, three months’ fees will be deducted.

The value of the fee per month is calculated by dividing the total tuition fees by ten. Charges for books and school uniforms will not be refunded, but the above conditions for refund apply to transportation fees if the school provides the service.