Veto power for parents, accountability: Education Minister allays concerns over Bill to regulate school fee in Delhi
Addressing a Town Hall event in Janakpuri, he said, 'This Bill will put an end to arbitrary practices of private schools and ensure transparency in fee fixation, active participation of parents, and give them the veto power on hikes.'
Calling it a 'historic Bill', Sood said the reform will safeguard 18 lakh parents, 'restoring their trust, transparency and giving them greater control'.
He also assured parents that their queries would be answered and that they would have a fair say in matters concerning their children's education.
According to a statement issued by Sood's office, around 200 parents from Janakpuri participated in the event and 'shared several important suggestions with the Minister and requested him to address their concern'.
Ever since the Bill was proposed earlier this year, several protests have been held by groups of parents who have said that they were not included in discussions on the matter.
The Bill, which has now been sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for his nod, seeks to bring both recognised and unrecognised private schools under a uniform oversight mechanism for regulating fees. The change, Sood said, is meant to correct a 'loophole in the 1973 law', under which only 300 of Delhi's 1,700 private schools were covered.
He told parents, 'If any school increases fees without the government approval, it will face a fine ranging from `1 lakh to `10 lakh, and in case of failure to refund excess charges, double the penalty will be imposed.'
The statement underlined that the Directorate of Education will be given 'powers similar to that of an SDM to ensure uniform action against all schools'.
At the event, plain sheets of paper were passed around to collect feedback. 'One of the main concerns is the election of Parent Teacher Association members at the school level… to make sure that matters like fee hike will be taken up after giving due importance to the opinion of parents,' said Divya Mattey, a parent.
The Bill lays out a three-tier fee regulation framework — the School Level Fee Regulation Committee, the District Fee Appellate Committee, and a Review Committee.
At the school level, the committee will be chaired by a nominee of the management, including the principal as secretary, five parents drawn by lots from the PTA, three teachers, and a nominee from the Directorate of Education as an observer.
At least two members must be women and one from a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or socially backward class.
The committee must meet before August 15 each year to unanimously approve the school's proposed fee for the upcoming academic year, with revisions allowed only once every three years.
The official statement noted that the new process sets specific timelines 'committee decision by 15 July, district-level decision by 30 July, and final decision by September.' If no decision is made within 45 days, the matter will be referred to the appellate committee.
A challenge to the proposed fee can be initiated by at least 15% of parents from the affected school.
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Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
All private schools to follow new fee regulation law, says Delhi education minister
New Delhi, The Delhi government has brought all 1,700 private schools in the city under a new fee regulation law, with provisions for parental participation and veto power on fee hikes, Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Friday. Speaking at a "Parents' Town Hall" in Janakpuri, Sood said the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, passed in the Monsoon Session of the Assembly, seeks to end arbitrary fee increases and ensure transparency in the fee fixation process. About 200 parents attended the interaction, where the minister explained key provisions of the law, including penalties for non-compliance. Schools that raise fees without government approval will face fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, with double penalties if excess charges are not refunded, he said, according to an official statement. The bill also grants the Director of Education powers similar to those of a sub-divisional magistrate to ensure uniform action against violations, it stated. Committees comprising parents, teachers, school management and government representatives will be involved in setting school fees, it read. Sood said the new law closes a loophole in the 1973 rules, under which only 300 schools were covered for the fee regulation. "Now, all private schools in Delhi will come under the ambit of fee regulation," he said. The minister criticised previous governments for failing to establish a transparent system for private school fee control. "Those who claimed to have brought an education revolution did not make real improvements in government schools," he said, adding that many parents opted for private schools because of the poor state of public education facilities. As per the bill, decisions on fee proposals must be made by school-level committees by July 15, district-level committees by July 30, and finalised by September. If no decision is reached within 45 days, the matter will be referred to an appellate committee. Sood said the law was drafted after consultations with parents and education experts to curb the commercialisation of education and safeguard the interests of students. PTI Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Veto power for parents, accountability: Education Minister allays concerns over Bill to regulate school fee in Delhi
Days after the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, was passed in the Delhi Assembly, Education Minister Ashish Sood on Friday allayed concerns among parents while maintaining that the Bill will put an 'end to arbitrary practices' of private schools. Addressing a Town Hall event in Janakpuri, he said, 'This Bill will put an end to arbitrary practices of private schools and ensure transparency in fee fixation, active participation of parents, and give them the veto power on hikes.' Calling it a 'historic Bill', Sood said the reform will safeguard 18 lakh parents, 'restoring their trust, transparency and giving them greater control'. He also assured parents that their queries would be answered and that they would have a fair say in matters concerning their children's education. According to a statement issued by Sood's office, around 200 parents from Janakpuri participated in the event and 'shared several important suggestions with the Minister and requested him to address their concern'. Ever since the Bill was proposed earlier this year, several protests have been held by groups of parents who have said that they were not included in discussions on the matter. The Bill, which has now been sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for his nod, seeks to bring both recognised and unrecognised private schools under a uniform oversight mechanism for regulating fees. The change, Sood said, is meant to correct a 'loophole in the 1973 law', under which only 300 of Delhi's 1,700 private schools were covered. He told parents, 'If any school increases fees without the government approval, it will face a fine ranging from `1 lakh to `10 lakh, and in case of failure to refund excess charges, double the penalty will be imposed.' The statement underlined that the Directorate of Education will be given 'powers similar to that of an SDM to ensure uniform action against all schools'. At the event, plain sheets of paper were passed around to collect feedback. 'One of the main concerns is the election of Parent Teacher Association members at the school level… to make sure that matters like fee hike will be taken up after giving due importance to the opinion of parents,' said Divya Mattey, a parent. The Bill lays out a three-tier fee regulation framework — the School Level Fee Regulation Committee, the District Fee Appellate Committee, and a Review Committee. At the school level, the committee will be chaired by a nominee of the management, including the principal as secretary, five parents drawn by lots from the PTA, three teachers, and a nominee from the Directorate of Education as an observer. At least two members must be women and one from a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or socially backward class. The committee must meet before August 15 each year to unanimously approve the school's proposed fee for the upcoming academic year, with revisions allowed only once every three years. The official statement noted that the new process sets specific timelines 'committee decision by 15 July, district-level decision by 30 July, and final decision by September.' If no decision is made within 45 days, the matter will be referred to the appellate committee. A challenge to the proposed fee can be initiated by at least 15% of parents from the affected school.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
New Education Bill Comes Into Effect
New Delhi: Education minister Ashish Sood on Friday hosted a "parents' town hall" in Janakpuri to brief parents on the benefits of the school fee regulation law. The event followed the notification of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. Chief minister Rekha Gupta termed the legislation as a "revolution in Delhi's education sector" and expressed happiness that it was coming into effect on Independence Day. The bill aims to keep a check on arbitrary fee hikes by private schools. "This Act is a big relief for Delhiites. They cannot be fleeced anymore. Previous govts did not make any law in Delhi to check arbitrary fee hikes by private schools, but our govt understood the pain of Delhi's parents," Gupta said during her I-Day speech. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi At the town hall, Sood interacted with parents and discussed the key provisions of the fee bill. During the interaction, comprehensive details related to the bill were shared with parents, such as how the bill was implemented, what rights parents have under it and how they can be part of this change. Around 200 parents from Janakpuri participated in the programme, discussed the bill with the minister and sought information on various provisions. They also shared several important suggestions and requested him to address their concerns at the earliest. Sood assured parents that every child in the capital would now get quality education and that no one would be deprived of education due to financial reasons. "Private schools are necessary for Delhi, but transparency and accountability in fee fixation are equally essential," he said. Addressing the parents, Sood said the bill would ensure transparency in fee fixation, active participation of parents and veto power on fee hikes. "The previous govts did not create a robust system or law for fee regulation. We prepared this bill after discussions with parents and several education experts, which will not only curb the commercialisation of education but also protect children's dreams," he said. Sood clarified that due to a loophole in the 1973 law, only 300 of Delhi's 1,700 private schools were subject to fee regulation. However, with the new law, all private schools will now come under the ambit of fee regulation, he said. The new process also lays down specific timelines – committee decision by July 15, district-level decision by July 30 and the final decision by Sept. "If no decision is made within 45 days, the matter will go to the appellate committee," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
