Sharjah school fees at Sudan Private School will not be collected, with parents also set to receive refunds for fees already paid.
SHARJAH: Parents of pupils at Sudan Private School in Sharjah will no longer have to pay school fees, following a directive from His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. He also instructed the Sharjah Private Education Authority to return money already collected from families, making it clear that the school was created to provide free education to Sudanese children whose parents may struggle to afford other schools.
The Ruler explained that Sudan Private School was originally established after it became clear that some Sudanese families in Sharjah did not have the financial means to enrol their children elsewhere. The intention, he said, was never to turn the school into a commercial operation. Sharjah would support the teachers and the running of the school without placing the financial burden on parents.
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Speaking during the Direct Line programme on Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, the Ruler addressed what had happened after the education authority introduced what were described as nominal charges. He said even a small amount can be difficult for a family already struggling financially. He therefore directed the authority to stop collecting Sharjah school fees from pupils at the school, whether the amount was considered large or small, and refund what families had already paid.
Sharjah would support the teachers and the running of the school without placing the financial burden on parents.
– His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
The Ruler also spoke about the importance of maintaining teaching standards at the school. He said the authorities closely follow what happens inside the institution, including the performance and behaviour of teachers. Teachers who need support can receive training to improve their skills, while appropriate action can be taken when standards are not met. He also stressed that physical mistreatment of pupils would not be tolerated.
Education was a wider theme of his comments. Sharjah Government employees were encouraged to continue their own studies through a new educational programme called Tumouh, meaning Aspiration. Sixty male and female government employees have enrolled in a postgraduate diploma programme that can help them continue towards a master’s degree at the University of Exeter in the UK.
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The decision on Sharjah school fees is likely to provide immediate relief for Sudanese families whose children attend the school. More importantly, the directive returns the institution to its original purpose of providing children with access to education without parents having to worry about whether they can afford the cost.
Impact to expect
The decision could provide direct financial relief to Sudanese families in Sharjah while ensuring children can continue their education without school fees becoming an added household expense.
