Delhi Chief Minister backs bill to control private school fees and boost accountability
Fines for unauthorised fee hikes will range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, with penalties doubling if payments are delayed.The Bill requires schools to justify any proposed fee hike by presenting evidence related to location, infrastructure, operational expenditure, and teaching quality.Parents will have the authority to approve or reject these proposals, giving them direct influence in the decision-making process.'This Bill is a shield for the dreams of Delhi's children,' Gupta said. 'No one will be allowed to put a price on their aspirations.'Gupta stated that the draft was prepared after consulting education experts and parent groups. She said the intent was to create a balance between safeguarding parental interests and allowing schools to maintain their operations effectively.Criticising the previous AAP government and earlier administrations, Gupta alleged that neither AAP nor Congress took concrete steps to regulate school fees in the past 27 years. 'If education was really your priority, why didn't you bring a legal framework earlier?' she said.The legislation also brings schools under stricter scrutiny regardless of their land allotment history. Authorities will have the mandate to inspect records and accounts to ensure compliance.The Delhi government expects the law to address longstanding complaints from parents about steep annual hikes, especially in schools located in prime areas. The next step will involve framing rules for the Bill's implementation and setting up mechanisms for parents to file complaints.For now, the government maintains that the law is designed to bring both transparency and accountability into a sector where financial decisions have often gone unchecked.- Ends
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