Private educational institutions have been banned from accepting any foreign scholarships or training courses without a written authorisation.

The Education Ministry has sent a circular in this regard to all private schools and training institutions specifying the new regulations, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"The move is in compliance with the law 25 for 1998 on private educational and training institutions", Under-Secretary for Educational and Curricula Affairs Dr Abdulla Yusuf Al Mutawa said.

Under the new regulations, a written consent will be required in advance before attending any foreign-funded courses, conferences, meetings or forums.

Scholarships granted by any non-governmental party will be subjected to the ministry's approval in compliance with the rules governing scholarship funding.

Higher Education Council (HEC) Secretary-General Dr Riyadh Yusuf Hamza specified the new regulations in a circular distributed to all private academic institutions, based on the HEC edict (384) for 2013.

Private universities will have to secure a written authorisation before conducting foreign-funded training courses, conferences, meetings or forums. – TradeArabia News Service