KUWAIT CITY, Oct 8: Noura Al-Ghanim, the Head of the Private Schools Union, has reiterated her criticism of the Ministry of Education’s decision to cancel additional service fees in private schools. She emphasized that this abrupt cancellation at the start of the current academic year will hinder the education of students, particularly in foreign schools that participate in global platforms, where fees are four times higher than those imposed on students.

In a statement to Al-Rai, Al-Ghanim explained that technology is now the cornerstone of education, and schools will not revert to traditional methods like blackboards and chalk, not even in kindergartens. The additional fees, which amount to about 75 dinars per student, grant students access to global platforms and free entry to school activities.

She highlighted that these platforms expand students’ knowledge by offering access to global libraries and diverse learning resources. There are aspects of education not covered by school textbooks, so schools subscribe to these global platforms based on their student population. For instance, a school with 1,000 students will subscribe for that number and create individual accounts for each student.

Expressing her surprise at the sudden cancellation of these fees, Al-Ghanim noted that this decision was made without prior coordination with the Private Schools Union and without understanding why these fees had been previously approved. She stressed that these services are essential to the educational process, and without them, learning would be incomplete. They also play a crucial role in helping students gain admission to international universities.

Al-Ghanim also touched on the activities offered to students outside of school hours, for which schools pay teachers and administrators. She pointed out that one of the key questions international universities ask during the enrollment process is about the extracurricular activities students participated in during their school years.

Regarding complaints from some parents about the additional fees, Al-Ghanim acknowledged that such complaints are expected. Parents who are unaware of the importance of these services may see the fees as a financial burden. However, parents who are more informed and seeking a higher standard of education for their children understand the significant value these services add to their child's educational future. She argued that not everyone should be judged based on the complaints of a few, as students who have accessed global platforms and technological resources experience a noticeable difference when taking international exams.