With the new academic year approaching, schools in Kuwait have announced tuition fee hikes – news that has worried many expat parents.

According to news published yesterday, owners of private schools have already sought the approval of the Ministry of Education to increase fees for the upcoming academic year.

In Kuwait, where the population comprises two-thirds of the local people, private schools are the only option for children of expats, and with a few exceptions school fees have become a burden on many households.

School fees affect the budget of many families living in Kuwait. Indian and Filipino families whose children are studying in elementary and high-school find tuitions overwhelmingly high compared to tuition fees back home.

Rolly, a Filipino father of three who works in a private company and makes KD300 a month, finds paying the school fees burdensome.

“The school fees here are really high,” complained Rolly. “With the expenses I have for my two children – one in the elementary and the other one in high school- I could already educate one person in medicine or law school,” he told Kuwait Times.

“My three children are in school. I am paying most of my salary for their tuition fees. I don’t really mind that, but when I compared the tuition fees back home, the difference is excessively high. I think I could save more money if I send them home,” he added.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has issued a decree for the increase of private school fees to be implemented gradually, at a five percent rate beginning in 2009. But the increase was based on MoE school category, which is normally based on the number of students and school facilities.

The rising costs of living in Kuwait, with inflation reaching up to five percent in 2011, affects lower income families, especially expatriates. Since the law in Kuwait does not allow foreign children to attend public schools, expats have no choice but to place their children in private schools and pay what – for many – is more than two months’ salary in fees.

Anna, another parent whose children are currently enrolled at Indian schools said, “We have to bite the bullet. We are already facing the impact of sky high rents, prices of commodities and living expenses, and now the reality of a tuition hike.

Our solution, as for my family, is to deprive ourselves of all the luxury we enjoyed before. Foremost, I want my three children to have a good education, so we are depriving ourselves from some good things in life,” she said.