The Dubai Executive Council's decision not to increase fees in all private schools in Dubai for the 2018-19 academic year will bring immense cheer and relief to parents.  

This commendable move, which will be implemented with immediate effect following the instructions of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, will go a long way in helping parents stay on course with their children’s education budget for the next year. In fact, this decision will also help parents plan their overall budget more effectively, given the large percentage of earnings/savings that are allocated to education alone.

The cost of school education in the UAE has been a focal point of many studies and reports over the years, with the results placing the country higher than the international average. Add to it the rise in the cost of living, and it can create a pressured environment for parents as they struggle to balance their priorities and stay on an even keel.

The gift of education is one of the most empowering privileges in life for every child and the more the advantageous conditions created for parents by the government through well-conceived policies, the better is the outcome for all. 

Affordable education is the fulcrum on which growth, development, and societal well-being are poised and in assuring parents of a year-long period of education budget stability, Dubai has put in place yet another measure for a happy society.