Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has introduced a new policy regulating tuition fees for private schools and kindergartens, establishing Qatar’s first comprehensive and publicly announced framework for approving fee increases while balancing educational quality, financial sustainability, and parental interests.
Announced during a press conference in Doha, the policy introduces clear and transparent criteria for tuition, operating, service, and optional fees. It links future tuition increases to schools’ academic performance, educational quality, and operational standards rather than financial considerations alone. Officials said the framework was developed following extensive studies and a review of international best practices.
As part of the pilot implementation for the 2026–2027 academic year, the ministry reviewed 99 applications from private schools and kindergartens seeking tuition or service fee adjustments. Of the 57 institutions that met the eligibility and assessment criteria, 54 were granted tuition fee increases, while three requests were rejected. A further 22 applications were excluded for failing to meet documentation or eligibility requirements.
A key feature of the new policy is the requirement that parents receive up to 18 months’ advance notice before any approved tuition increase takes effect, replacing the previous practice of announcing increases shortly before the start of the academic year. The ministry said the measure will give families sufficient time to plan financially or consider alternative schooling options.
The policy also establishes, for the first time, a ceiling on tuition fee increases. Schools’ eligibility for higher fee adjustments will depend on their academic evaluation results, educational quality, and compliance with ministry standards. Institutions licensed for fewer than three years, schools that received fee increases within the previous three academic years, or those with enrolment below 65% of approved capacity will generally be ineligible to apply.
To support struggling institutions, the ministry introduced financial and academic recovery pathways. Three schools have been placed under financial recovery, 13 under academic recovery, and three under a combined recovery programme. The ministry also confirmed it will issue standardized fee schedules covering all 355 private schools and kindergartens, regardless of whether they applied for fee adjustments.
Source: QNA