Some parents go into debt for children’s tuition fees,

ABU DHABI // Parents say they are feeling the financial pinch as tuition fees and other backto-school expenses rise.

They said school fees – usually paid in a lump sum at the start of the academic year – were their biggest outlay after rent. For many writing the annual cheque to their children’s schools left them with a financial headache.

Rosie Seldon, a 42- year- old marketing and digital consultant for a UK online marketing firm, said tuition fee increases often left her family strapped for cash.

“September is always a challenging month, as we have to pay the first batch of school fees for the year,” said Ms Seldon, who has two children, aged nine and 11, who study at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi. “As the children get older, the school fees increase.”

She said the heavy cost of school fees and other costs were a constant worry for her and her husband, a banking executive.

For each of the three school terms, her children’s school fees amount to Dh50,000.

“While my children love Cran- leigh, Dh150,000 is expensive every year,” said Ms Seldon. Other expenses included uniforms, stationery and after-school activities.

“A lot of companies contribute to school fees but as the school fees increase each year, the average allowances offered by companies only cover a third of the fees,” she said. “Many employees pay the schools directly and then claim a refund from their company, so you always have to have the money in your back pocket.”

Ms Seldon said she knew several parents who have returned to the UK because school fees in the UAE became too expensive for them. “With the exchange rate moving in favour of the UAE, it means that UK schools are cheaper now than two years ago for expats who send their children abroad,” she said.

“Of course, in the UK there is the option of an outstanding state school education, which is free.”

Jennifer Sharp, a 41-year-old Briton, said school fees were a worry.

“We have twin girls and we are definitely feeling the pinch,” she said.

“We are out of pocket nearly Dh60,000 on school fees. Adding in our twin girls’ activities, the costs have nearly broken the bank. At this rate we will end up having to leave the UAE.”

Many parents are taking out personal loans to meet the increase in school fees and unexpected costs.

Waleed Barhaji, Noor Bank’s business head of consumer finance, said industry reports showed that the UAE was among the most costly countries for education, trailing behind Australia and the United States.

The Education Cost Index in Dubai rose to 3.21 per cent this year from 2.92 per cent last year, enabling schools to raise their fees for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Families were often caught out by costs that they did not account for, said Mr Barhaji.

“Without proper short-term planning … parents would have to secure personal finance to manage,” he said.