Strict control is reportedly underway regarding student registration processes, fee adjustments, and various material requests for the 2019 academic year across private schools in the Addis Ababa city administration.
It is recalled that in previous years, widespread and recurring grievances had been raised by parents due to monthly tuition fees, registration costs, uniform sales, and school supply requirements demanded in kind, such as soap and tissue paper.
The city administration’s Education and Training Quality Control Authority previously established a robust system to permanently resolve this issue by setting a monthly tuition fee ceiling to prevent institutions from arbitrary and unlimited fee collection.
Accordingly, following an assessment conducted ahead of the new academic year, Tagitu Ababu, the authority's deputy manager, stated that only 166 private schools those that have not made any previous adjustments according to regulatory guidelines are permitted to increase fees for the 2019 academic year.
The deputy manager further emphasized that all remaining private schools outside of these authorized institutions are strictly prohibited from implementing any fee increases.
She also noted that last year, through monitoring and parent tips, 149 institutions that violated guidelines by demanding cleaning supplies and paper in kind from parents of kindergarten students were identified and faced legal action.
She added that supplies previously requested in kind under various names entirely violate regulations and are illegal, prompting the termination of such practices.
It was disclosed that parents and guardians can lodge immediate tips by calling the toll-free hotline 9023 or by appearing in person at the authority’s office if they are asked for unauthorized fees, including entrance exam fees for new students, or if they are pressured to provide various supplies in kind or cash.
It is understood that every year at the start of the academic term, what deprives parents of sleep is not only the rising cost of educational materials, but also the unlimited fee increases ranging from 50 to 100 percent and higher imposed by private schools.
This burden does not end in the opening days alone, but continues throughout the year through holidays and demands for various extra materials.
While parents raise concerns that school fees have become unaffordable while struggling to cover rent and food, private schools counter by citing rising rent costs, increases in electricity and water tariffs, and the necessity of paying high salaries to retain qualified teachers.
Nonetheless, the authority has affirmed that it will intensify its strict regulatory efforts against any institutions violating the law and guidelines.
