school Fee discounts become norm For Parents

Just last week, a report released by the Education Intelligence Group (EIG) and Property Finder looked at the changing demographics in the education and property sector. It noted that despite rental prices coming down in price over the past two years, school tuition fees have continued to rise.

But with the government’s decision to freeze all school fee increases across the UAE earlier this year, the report noted that school operators need to “move with the changing tide”, by revising their approach to student enrollment and overall fees.

With competition now rife in the education sector, tuition fee discounts, much like this latest one offered by Renaissance School, is set to become the norm in a bid to fill school seats.

By 2027, Dubai alone is set to open an additional 120 new schools, so reward schemes and discounts will be vital in attracting students, given that education is one of the biggest costs for parents here. Today, schools already have offers in place including sibling discounts, which can see savings of between five to 30 per cent on each additional child enrolled at a school within one family.

The Gems Education network also launched its Gems Rewards programme in 2017, a kind of Entertainer for school parents, which boasts more than 1,000 offers and partners with more than 300 brands. Parents can earn points to pay for school fees, and get discounts of up to four per cent on every successful student referral.

Additionally, in a Khaleej Times article earlier this month, it highlighted how Kings Nad Al Sheba has partnered with the Aviation Pilots Club, Emirates and Standard Chartered and offer students whose parents work at these companies a discount.

The American School of Creative Science offers discounts to children whose parents work for the Dubai Police.