RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Education has warned private schools in the Kingdom of strict action if they increase fees without its permission.
The warning comes against the backdrop of the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) imposing the insurance policy on the private sector, including schools, Arab News quoted Mahmood Al-Quiehes, director of the Office of Private and Foreign Education in Riyadh, as saying.
“Schools have already been forced to reimburse the excess fees to parents on previous occasions,” he reportedly said, adding that there are standards and mechanisms for raising fees.
Al-Quiehes stressed that all schools are obliged to display the fees and services provided on their websites so that everyone can see what is required.
Yasser Al-Maarik, spokesman of the CCHI, earlier said that a decision was taken to oblige the private sector to sign a health insurance policy that includes private and foreign schools.
According to the health insurance law, all employees — nationals and residents — are supposed to be insured. A number of schools reportedly hinted at increasing the fees soon after the rule came into force.
Al-Maarik was quoted as saying that the “united insurance document” includes the families of teachers, nationals and residents. It also includes the wife and the husband and all of their sons aged up to 25 years and daughters until they get married.
He reportedly said the doors of the council are open to give information and answer queries and receive complaints.
Al-Maarik added that the council’s decision will apply to all company owners and establishments in the private sector and it is hoped that all will abide by the new controls allowing those insured to be protected in the required form.
Rasheed Al-Hasan, member of the National Committee of Private Education, reportedly said obliging private school owners to sign the health insurance document for male and female teachers and residents and their families will have a negative effect.
Schools owners will have to raise the fees to make up for the losses in providing health insurance, he was quoted as saying by Arab News.
