A 50% increase in tuition fees in private schools next year…forcibly!

Nada Abdel Razzaq wrote in Al-Diyar newspaper: “Private schools in Lebanon have been witnessing continuous increases in tuition fees for more than 5 years, which raises a lot of controversy and questions about the reasons for these additions and their nature. “Increases in tuition fees are part of the private education policy in Lebanon, as private schools have the freedom to set tuition fees and fees independently and randomly, which leads to increased financial pressure on families.”

Abdul Razzaq continued,

Besides internal factors of schools, economic and political conditions also play a role in determining tuition fees. The impact of this issue on families and students is very severe, especially in light of the current harsh living conditions, and this is translated into:

1. Financial tightening: High tuition increases the monetary crisis and makes it difficult for families to bear the educational expenses of their children, which may force them to make harsh decisions, such as transferring their children to public schools or other less expensive options.
2. Declining quality of education: This results in a decline in the quality of teaching provided in private schools, as monetary hardship may lead to a reduction in investments in improving facilities and developing educational programs.
3. Students’ poor quality: Financial anxiety may negatively impact students’ academic performance and mental health, which can lead to deteriorating academic results and social engagement.

In this context, educators revealed to Al-Diyar “the hypothesis that there will be an exodus from private to public schools if the decision to increase tuition fees in private schools comes into effect, due to the dire economic conditions in Lebanon.” This shift could be a result of some parents’ inability to bear the expenses of education in private schools, and the search for reasonable educational options in public schools. However, the scale of displacement depends on many factors, including measures that the government and private schools can take to ease the burden on families and preserve the private sector character of education.”

In parallel, the head of the “Union of Parents and Guardians Committees” in private schools in Lebanon, Lama Al-Taweel, explained to Al-Diyar that “these increases are illegal, and are imposed randomly without following any legal and accounting principles stipulated in Law 515.”

She pointed out, “The parents are the weakest link, due to the state’s negligence in providing formal education, at least of which rises to the level of private education. This negligence is deliberate by religious authorities and party leaders, because they own private educational institutions, and from them they reap huge profits from the families.” Therefore, parents are forced to succumb to pressure or move between schools,” and she pointed out that “the majority of private institutions neglect the legal oversight role of parents’ committees, and form committees in collusion with them.”

She continued, “Parents must reject these increases and not comply with the coercion of administrations. We also bet on those concerned with educational affairs to demand that limits and ceilings be set for these increases, especially the House of Representatives, which must enact legislation that protects parents from the arrogance of schools. Its role is to secure public schools, not protect private institutions to meet their needs.” According to the orders of some references.”

She concluded by emphasizing: “It is clear that there is a tendency to “double” tuition fees in all private schools, and this issue is being discussed within the corridors. The administrations of these schools adopt certain policies, which begin by conveying the news to the people, as happened in “Lycée” Tripoli and “Abdul Qader.” If the parents object and raise their voice, then negotiations will take place between the two parties, but if the parents remain silent, the school will begin implementing the increase project.”

For his part, a member of the “Committee of Contractual Teachers in Basic Education” in Lebanon, Dr. Hussein Muhammad Saad, confirmed to “Al-Diyar” that “this increase is neither legal nor justified, because the dollar exchange rate has been fixed for almost a year, and schools started their year on this basis.” In addition, there are no economic factors or indicators that have increased in this area. Therefore, raising tuition fees in private schools has no legal justification, or any indication that tuition fees must be inflated, whether in Lebanese pounds or dollars. “Education” is required to take action and pursue schools that seek to increase tuition fees at the beginning of the next academic year.”

He said: “The Ministry of Education is required to strike with an iron hand before this decision enters into force, in order to deter private schools that intend to raise tuition fees in the face of parents, especially in light of the absence of any legal or economic motive that led to an increase in tuition fees in the private sector.” Everyone knows that the series of ranks and salaries for professors in the public or private sectors has not been corrected, even though wages in the private sector are much better than public sector salaries by 50%.”

Saad stressed, “Private schools are stronger than the law, and form “cartels” that are more like gatherings, and therefore are considered more stringent than the Ministry of Education and the laws issued by the House of Representatives. There is a negative reaction as a result of the non-implementation of the law issued by the House of Representatives, which relates to the formation of a compensation fund for retired professors in private schools, and this negatively affected them during this period, because they did not apply the law properly. Here, the schools that declared the strike on that day bear responsibility, because they were seeking to obtain some rights from the state, not from the funds belonging to them. Note that it charges high fees from families, and has incorrect and fictitious budgets before the Ministry of Education, and the latter must pursue this matter and tighten supervision, and the inspection must move and track down these schools.”