School more expensive

[NewsWhore]

Education Minister Alejandrina German has authorized schools that charge more than R$500 per month to charge up to 12% more for the 2008-2009 school year. The Minister also ordered schools to give parents a credit if the monthly fees or inscription costs exceeded the 12%. The Minister said that any school wishing to charge more than the 12% increase must provide the Department for Private Schools with an explanation, and that schools that fail to do so will be fined. German authorized the increases as a result of the accumulated inflation rate of 7.95% registered in recent years. Hoy quotes a study which indicates that of the 1,577 recognized schools in the DR, 328 will not raise tuition fess while 378 schools will increases fees by 10% to 19% and 59 schools will increase fees by 20%. Listin Diario writes that 271 schools in the DR currently charge less than RD$500 per month, while 641 schools charge less than RD$1,000 per month. The Dominican Teachers Association welcomed the increase, but parents are wary about the decision as it will increase the costs of their children's education.

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