The 24 best rated private schools will be able to raise fees by an average of 3 per cent next academic year, the education regulator says.

The other 167 either did not apply for fee rises or had them knocked back by Abu Dhabi Education Council.

“Adec has rejected the request of 60 private schools to increase their fees,” the authority said.

The announcement came after its increasingly tough stance on failing schools.

Last month it named some of the worst performers and said they would not be allowed to enrol new pupils.

The authority said it monitored tuition and other fees, and ensured schools refrained from imposing extra fees without approval.

“Currently 34 per cent of private school students pay fees less than Dh10,000 a year, whereas 24 per cent of the students pay fees between Dh20,000 and Dh30,000, and 12 per cent pay fees between Dh30,000 and Dh50,000,” it said.

“Only 6 per cent of students paid more than Dh50,000.”

Rajendra Padmanabhan, head of operations at Global Indian International School Abu Dhabi, said he supported the decision to reject applications from so many schools.

“It is the right decision because the schools cannot increase their fees, or ask for an increase in fees, without providing better facilities and better education for the children,” Mr Padmanabhan said.

“If out of about 200 private schools only 24 are allowed to increase, parents will be happy.”

But Dr Abdul Kader, principal of the Model School, said not being able to increase fees made it more difficult for schools to operate.

“The expenses of running a school have become very high now,” Dr Kader said. “Increases are needed. Our fees are very low and I know we find it very difficult.”

In Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority said that this year schools could increase their fees between 2.4 and 4.8 per cent, depending on their performance in the school inspections.

Education fees are also based on the annual Education Cost Index set by the Dubai Statistics Centre.

This year the rate was set at 2.4 per cent. This means that schools rated “outstanding” could increase their fees by double the index, “very good” schools by 1.75 times, and “good” schools by 1.5 times.

All other schools could increase fees equal to the ECI.

In April, members of the Federal National Council called on Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, to address high fee rises in the private schools.

Mr Al Hammadi said the ministry would investigate because “many private schools added unapproved charges”.