Regulators should plug loopholes in education

A United Arab Emirates newspaper has commented about the escalating costs of education in the UAE, urging regulators of the education sector to 'plug the loopholes'. "Quality comes with a price. However, when it comes to education in the UAE, one is not sure if it is fully true. Tuition fees in some schools in the UAE are even higher than those in some European and North American universities," the English language daily 'Gulf News' commented today. Although, to be fair, some schools do offer good education in line with the fees they charge. However, the reverse is gaining momentum, causing panic among parents. Most schools also exploit the teaching staff by predominantly hiring housewives and get away with paying low wages something that reflects in the quality of teaching. Due to a demand-supply mismatch, some educational institutions are taking parents for a ride, it continued. "In some cases, businessmen who own schools flout government rules by increasing charges of associated services such as transport, uniforms, books and stationery. Some of these schools adjust the fees according to the education allowances paid to employees of large corporates and senior executives of various institutions to tap this growing market." The paper concluded by saying: "Education is a service as well as a good business that should not be short-changed for profits. Businessmen who own schools should exercise fair play and focus on quality education."