DOHA: Several citizens have complained about the high fees charged by several private kindergartens and called on the Supreme Education Council (SEC) to strictly monitor the facilities.
Some KGs have increased the fees by cent percent and this has raised questions about the role of SEC as a monitoring body, they said. The mushrooming private KGs are cashing on the high demand from parents.
Mohammed Zafir Al Hajri, a member of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) representing Sheehania said there is need for more KGs in new residential areas, but this must be in line with the development plans.
Operational costs must be taken into account while fixing the fees but this should not be a justification to squeeze the parents. KGs must not be given a free hand and should be kept under strict monitoring, local Arabic daily Al Arab quoted Al Hajri as saying.
Citing a personal experience, Jabir Al Bareedi said he had gone to enroll his child in a KG and was told that the fee was QR9,000, per year apparently. However, when the admission procedures completed, the fee was increased by more than 100 percent to QR19,000.
He said the decision to increase the fee was taken after converting the facility into an international KG. Parents had to accept the decision because the admissions were over. “I thought it was an exceptional case. Later I realised that tens of parents face similar situations. Some KGs are charging even higher,” said Al Bareedi.
“They say this is approved by the SEC. How can SEC approve an increase by more than double. This should not be allowed,” he added.
He said opening of more KGs do not help in reducing the fees since their basic aim is to make profits. Fee increase has nothing to do with the limited number of seats. Sara Salim Al Ahbabi said there is a huge gap in the fee structure of different KGs in Qatar although there is no much difference in their educational contents. “Increasing fees must be in the interest of the child in terms of quality. The fees are increasing but no change in education,” said Al Ahbabi.
She said some KGs are even lacking proper hygiene. This shows lack of inspections.
“Education in general is becoming more profit-oriented. KGs and private schools have become like any other investment project, although they are getting support from the government,” said Al Ahbabi.
She said the solution is to put all KGs under strict monitoring and open more KGs under SEC.
Abdul Rahman Al Merri said some KGs are charging fees even for admission tests. “They asked me to pay QR500 for the tests before admission. This test is nothing but a means to collect money,” he said.
The Peninsula
