Gov’t to issue by-law regulating private school fees

AMMAN — The government will issue a by-law that will regulate the work and licensing of private schools and regulate their fees, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said on Tuesday.

Increase in fees by Jordan’s private schools at present are “unjustified” and not in line with the inflation rate in the country, the premier said at a press conference on Tuesday, stressing “this is unacceptable”.

The by-law, which the government is working on, will control and regulate the process and govern any increase in fees by the private schools, Razzaz stated, adding that it will make it obligatory for all private schools to pay teachers’ salaries through bank accounts.

“Some schools do not pay salaries for teachers… they will have to pay the salaries through e-wallets via the Central Bank of Jordan or by making transfers to banks accounts to ensure that they at least pay the minimum wage,” he continued.

“A majority of teachers, especially women teachers, do not receive the minimum wage and they do not get paid during the summer when there are no classes, which is unacceptable,” Razzaz said, stressing “we want this by-law to ensure justice and to regulate the process.” 

The by-law comes after years of protests, online and offline lobbying by private schools’ teachers.

A campaign was launched in 2015 with the support of The National Committee for Pay Equity and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to help female teachers in private schools ensure that their basic labour rights are respected.

They recently succeeded in their demands to have their salaries deposited in their bank accounts, ensuring that they receive their financial compensation in full.

According to the ILO, there are about 37,000 teachers in the private education sector, one-third of whom, “if not more”, do not get paid the minimum monthly wage of JD220.