Education Cost Index set at 3.21 per cent
A new Education Cost Index (ECI) for 2016 announced by Dubai Statistics Center will allow private schools in Dubai to adjust their costs for the new academic year. The ECI has been set at 3.21 per cent, allowing schools to apply for a cost adjustment in line with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) fee framework.
According to KHDA’s Fee Framework, outstanding schools will be eligible for an adjustment of up to double the ECI, very good schools are eligible for up to 1.75 times the amount, good schools are eligible for 1.5 times the amount and rest are allowed an increase equivalent to the ECI per cent.
Mohammed Darwish, Chief of Regulations & Permits Commission at KHDA said, “The fee framework has been updated to align with the new six-scale UAE School Inspection framework which determines the quality of education in schools. It protects parents from arbitrary increases and provides an effective mechanism to balance the expectations of school investors and parents.”
The ECI takes into account school operating costs which include teacher salaries, rent, maintenance, electricity and water charges among a basket of other commodities.
Darwish added, “The ECI motivates schools to improve their quality of education and helps regulate inflation by adjusting the increase.”
School inspections are structured around six performance standards, which reflect an overall performance judgment, by inspections framework. The fee framework, which has been applied for the past five years has been developed in line with the strategic goals of KHDA and is connected with Dubai School Inspection Bureau’s quality indicators.
Schools will be eligible to apply for increases to fees according to the table below:
DSIB School Performance Results |
Percentage |
| Outstanding | 3.21 x 2 |
| Very Good | 3.21 x 1.75 |
| Good | 3.21 x 1.5 |
| Acceptable | 3.21 |
| Weak | 3.21 |
| Very Weak | 3.21 |
- KHDA
