Recently, I have received several messages from parents who were surprised by an unexpected increase in primary school tuition fees. One mother described her frustration, saying that the increase came after they had already paid the first installment, full payment, or a seat reservation deposit, as it’s commonly called. This sudden change caused confusion—especially during the summer—leaving them with little time to search for more affordable alternatives, as most schools had already filled their seats. Additionally, their work commitments limited their options, and many families had already started their summer vacations. By the time they returned, they found that all the seats had been taken, and time had run out.
Many parents prefer not to change the school their child has grown up in, for two main reasons: first, because it is close to home, making daily transportation easier and more comfortable for the child. Second, because academic studies indicate that switching schools can have noticeable negative effects, including lower academic performance, the emergence of behavioral issues, and more.
One study also found that students who change schools during early childhood perform worse in language and math skills, with long-term social and emotional impacts. There’s also a significant psychological factor: constant switching disrupts emotional stability and hinders the formation of a social environment that supports adaptation and steady growth.
Given all these considerations, the pressure of rising school fees has become a serious concern, placing families in a difficult situation at a critical time. Parents are forced either to continue paying at a school that has suddenly become unaffordable or to risk compromising their child’s education and emotional stability by searching for alternatives.
What’s needed instead are systematic solutions: regulating annual school fees over the long term, eliminating sudden increases—especially after a deposit has been paid—and establishing a more consistent pricing policy for currently enrolled students, under the supervision of the relevant authorities within the country.
