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Mint
14-05-2025
- Mint
School fee hike row: DPS Dwarka in Delhi expels 29 students, angry parents protest outside premises
Several students were denied entry into the premises of Delhi Public School (DPS) Dwarka on Tuesday morning over non-payment of fees as angry parents protested outside the gates. According to an Indian Express report, these students were among 29 expelled by the school, which cited legal provisions, with 'immediate effect' on May 9. However, parents have accused the school of 'mishandling children' and flouting a Delhi High Court order issued last month. They also claimed bouncers were stationed at the gate. Parents also alleged that several students were sent back home in school buses without prior intimation, the report said. Describing it as traumatic, one of the parents of a Class 11 student told the Indian Express, 'We were shocked when the school forcefully boarded our children into buses and sent them back home without any communication. We didn't know their whereabouts for a while. There was no sensitivity shown at all.' Students at DPS Dwarka have been facing the fee hike issue for several years now. According to the report, in April, an eight-member inspection committee led by District Magistrate (Southwest) had flagged discriminatory practices against students at the school. The students were barred from attending regular classes, were confined to a library, had restricted access to the canteen, were isolated from peers, and were closely monitored by guards during restroom visits, the report said. The Indian Express report, citing emails sent to affected families on May 9, said that the school said that the students' names were being struck off the rolls due to 'non-payment of school fee" despite 'various reminders through monthly SMS, emails, telephonic calls, and final reminder/show cause notice.' The report also said that the school justified the expulsions by citing Rule 35 of the Delhi Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973. This rule states that schools can expel students on the grounds of non-payment of fees and other dues for 20 days after the last day for payment, or continued absence without leave for six consecutive days. It is also compulsory to issue a showcause notice to the guardian or parent before such an action. The school's email also said, 'You are advised not to send your ward to the school. He/she shall not be permitted to enter the school premises. The RFID card of your ward has also been disabled and, if you send your ward to school despite his/her name being struck off from the school rolls, it shall be at your risk and consequence.' The parents were asked to collect the transfer certificate of their wards from the administration department on May 13, between 2.30 pm to 3 pm, Indian Express said. While the school principal did not respond to the Indian Express's request for comments, a source in the school said that a show cause notice had been issued to parents last December. "A total of more than ₹ 1 lakh is outstanding from 130 students, and there has already been a loss of ₹ 6 crore because certain students have completed Class 12. How can we recover the money in such cases?' the IE report quoted the source as saying. In fact, the source blamed the parents for misinterpreting the High Court order. 'The order is about how students are to be treated once inside the school — it doesn't stop us from expelling defaulters. Once a child is struck off the rolls, denying entry is not a violation,' the source added. 'The children are suffering because of their parents and the politics around it. We will not tolerate demonstrations outside the school gate.' On April 16, the Delhi HC had slammed the school for their conduct, terming it 'shocking' and 'inhuman'. The bench had said that the school was treating students in a 'shabby and inhuman' way and suggested that the government criminally prosecute the principal for torture. Justice Sachin Datta said the school, which was treating students like "chattel", deserved to be shut down, an ANI report said. The high court had also stressed on placing some safeguards to ensure that students at DPS Dwarka were not "tortured" by the authority, which was running the institution merely as a "money making machine". (With inputs from agencies)
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Fee hike row erupts at DPS Dwarka again: School expels 29 students, angry parents stage protest
Chaotic scenes were witnessed outside Delhi Public School (DPS) Dwarka on Tuesday morning after several students were denied entry into the premises — once again, over non-payment of fees — and angry parents protested at the gates. These students were among 29 expelled by the school, which cited legal provisions, with 'immediate effect' on May 9. Parents, however, accused the school of allegedly 'mishandling children' and flouting a Delhi High Court order issued last month. They also claimed bouncers were stationed at the gate. Parents also alleged that several students were reportedly sent back home in school buses without prior intimation. A parent of a Class XI student described the scene as traumatic. '… We were shocked when the school forcefully boarded our children into buses and sent them back home without any communication. We didn't know their whereabouts for a while. There was no sensitivity shown at all,' the parent claimed. In recent weeks, hundreds of parents took to Delhi's streets to protest against fee hikes at several private schools. At DPS Dwarka, the fee hike issue has been raging for several years. In April, an eight-member inspection committee led by District Magistrate (Southwest) Lakshay Singhal had flagged discriminatory practices against students at the schools: they were barred from attending regular classes and confined to the library, had restricted access to the canteen, were isolated from peers, and closely monitored by guards during restroom visits. The Delhi Cabinet then approved a draft Bill — the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation & Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that it will apply to all private schools in the city and ensure 'transparent, strict and clear provisions regarding school fee determination'. What prompted the latest issue In emails sent to affected families last Friday, the school cited Rule 35 of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, to justify the expulsions, stating that the students' names were being struck off the rolls due to 'non-payment of school fee' despite 'various reminders through monthly SMS, emails, telephonic calls and final reminder/show cause notice'. Rule 35 states that schools can expel students on the grounds of non-payment of fees and other dues for 20 days after the last day for payment, or continued absence without leave for six consecutive days. It is also compulsory to issue a showcause notice to the guardian or parent before such an action. The school's email also said, 'You are advised not to send your ward to the school. He/she shall not be permitted to enter the school premises. The RFID card of your ward has also been disabled and, if you send your ward to school despite his/her name being struck off from the school rolls, it shall be at your risk and consequence.' It asked the parents to collect the transfer certificate of their wards from the administration department on Tuesday, between 2.30 and 3 pm. The Indian Express sent an email to the school principal for comments, but it did not elicit a response. A source in the school said, 'A show cause notice was issued to the parents last December. A total of more than Rs 1 lakh is outstanding from 130 students, and there has already been a loss of Rs 6 crore because certain students have completed Class 12. How can we recover the money in such cases?' Reacting to the parents' claims, the source blamed them for misrepresenting the HC order. 'The order is about how students are to be treated once inside the school — it doesn't stop us from expelling defaulters. Once a child is struck off the rolls, denying entry is not a violation,' the source added. 'The children are suffering because of their parents and the politics around it. We will not tolerate demonstrations outside the school gate.' In its April 16 order, the HC had termed DPS Dwarka's action against students 'a very alarming state of affairs' and chastised the school for using the institution as a 'money-making machine'. Justice Sachin Datta restrained DPS Dwarka from engaging in any discriminatory practices against students over non-payment of fees. It also directed the school not to prevent such students from interacting with others or subject them to any form of prejudice or humiliation. The court further said in its order that 'any issue that the school may have as regards non-payment/deficit payment of fees, has to be addressed in the framework of the provisions of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, the rules framed thereunder and in terms of direction/s that may be issued in the pending judicial proceedings as regards thereto'. Parents also claimed they had alerted the Directorate of Education earlier about the possibility of mass expulsions, and said they would seek a legal remedy. Earlier, DPS Dwarka, in a statement, had rejected allegations against the school and said, 'any information being disseminated in the public domain against the school in this regard is false and frivolous'.
News18
02-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
81% Parents With Kids In Private Schools Report Fee Hike Of More Than 10%, Says Survey
Last Updated: In the national capital, hundreds of parents have been staging protests over the last month on the issue The start of the new academic session has brought bad news for thousands of parents in many cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, as many schools have revised their fee structures, resulting in an annual hike of anywhere between 10% and 50%. In the national capital, hundreds of parents have been staging protests over the last month. So far, even intervention by the Directorate of Education (DoE) has not proved a deterrent for many schools, many of which tend to increase the fees under various heads. Last year in April, the Delhi High Court in an interim order allowed schools to hike fees after submitting only a fee statement under Section 17(3) of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, thereby limiting the DoE's role in checking for profiteering or capitation fees. A repeat scenario can be seen in many other major cities where the much-in-demand private school education is getting out of reach for many parents, leading to some having to take loans to cope with the additional expenses. Responding to the citizens' demands, the Department of School Education in Karnataka has issued a circular mandating that all schools must issue clear admission notifications displaying details of the reservation policies and fee structures. The schools have been asked to put in place a complaint redressal system, while field education officers have been asked to provide prompt review and resolution of complaints. A recent nationwide study by community social media platform LocalCircles revealed that 44% of parents surveyed say schools have increased fees by 50-80% or more over the last 3 years. For parents of children in high school who feel the need for private tuition in preparation for competitive exams, the combined fees are a backbreaker. In a follow-up survey, LocalCircles strived to find out how much the increase in fees by private schools has been for the current academic year 2025-26. The survey received over 18,000 responses from parents of school-going children located in 301 districts of India. 61% of respondents were men, while 39% were women. 45% of respondents were from tier 1, 28% from tier 2, and 27% of respondents were from tier 3 and 4 districts. The increase in fees varies from school to school and depends also on the class and curriculum (CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, IB, etc.) the student is studying. The survey asked parents of school-going children, 'How much has the school your children/grandchildren go to increase the total fee in percentage terms for FY 2025-26 as compared to 2024-25?" Out of 18,902 respondents to the question, 22% stated the hike is 'over 30%", 28% stated the hike is '20-30%", 31% indicated the hike is '10-20%", 3% indicated" 5-10%", 3% indicated the 'fee increase has not been announced yet", 5% stated that there has been 'no change in fee during this period", and 8% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, 81% of parents surveyed who have children going to private schools report increased fees by over 10%. The data shows that in 50% of parents' cases, the jump in school fees has been over 20%. For parents already grappling with a multitude of pressures on their income besides the school and after-school education of their children, the situation is bound to be worrisome. Stay updated with the latest education! Get real-time updates on board exam results 2025, entrance exams such as JEE Mains, Advanced, NEET, and more. Find out top schools, colleges, courses and more. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 02, 2025, 22:16 IST
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Business Standard
02-05-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Crushed by school fees? Parents rise in protest across major cities
What should be a season of new beginnings for students has instead brought mounting anxiety for thousands of parents across India. A nationwide survey by LocalCircles has revealed that 81 per cent of parents with children in private schools have experienced a fee hike of more than 10 per cent this academic year. In cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, the impact is being felt on the ground, with many schools raising fees by up to 50 per cent, driving families to the verge and causing widespread demonstrations. Delhi at the epicentre of the storm In the national capital, frustration has spilled onto the streets. At Delhi Public School (DPS), Dwarka, parents have been protesting outside the school gates and the Directorate of Education (DoE), angered by recurring hikes that have pushed the annual fee to ₹1.4 lakh. According to them, the school has increased tuition fees every year since 2020, with annual jumps ranging from 8 per cent to 20 per cent. And DPS Dwarka is not alone. Across the Delhi-NCR region, similar scenes are unfolding outside private unaided schools that have implemented sharp, often sudden, fee increases. Parents say they are being forced to make painful financial choices just to keep up. Despite efforts by the DoE to step in, many schools continue to raise fees under various heads. The situation worsened last year, when the Delhi High Court, in an interim order, allowed private schools to increase fees after submitting a fee statement under Section 17(3) of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973. The court's decision effectively restricted the DoE's authority to only checking for profiteering or capitation fees, leaving families with little recourse. Karnataka steps in In Karnataka, growing pressure from parents has led the Department of School Education to issue a new circular. Schools are now required to publicly display detailed admission notifications, reservation policies, and full fee structures. They must also establish proper complaint redressal systems, while field education officers have been instructed to review and resolve grievances promptly. While the policy has been welcomed by many, for most families, it doesn't go far enough. Crisis is widespread The LocalCircles survey, which received over 18,000 responses from parents in 301 districts across India, paints a stark picture of how widespread the crisis has become. According to the data, 44 per cent of parents say school fees have risen by 50–80 per cent or more over the past three years. For families with children in higher classes, the costs are even steeper, as many also pay for private coaching alongside regular school fees. Here's what the survey found for the 2025–26 academic year: - 22 per cent of parents said the hike was over 30 per cent - 28 per cent reported a 20–30 per cent hike - 31 per cent experienced a 10–20 per cent increase - Just 3 per cent saw a hike of 5–10 per cent - 5 per cent reported no change - 3 per cent said the hike had not yet been announced - 8 per cent gave unclear or ambiguous responses In total, 81 per cent of parents surveyed said their child's school had raised fees by more than 10 per cent. For half of those, the increase exceeded 20 per cent. The hikes aren't confined to high-end schools or metro cities. The survey included a wide demographic: - 45 per cent of respondents were from tier 1 cities - 28 per cent from tier 2 cities - 27 per cent from tier 3 and 4 districts Among them, 61 per cent were men and 39 per cent were women. Strained wallets, heavy hearts For many households, the pressure is now unbearable. Some parents are resorting to loans. Others are cutting back on essentials. The financial toll is steep—but so is the emotional one. For families who view quality education as the gateway to a better future, these relentless hikes feel like a broken promise. As discontent spreads, parents and education activists are urging stronger action. They're calling on the central government, through CBSE, and State Education Departments to cap annual fee increases and enforce compliance. Many are also advocating for district-level surveys and audits to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Print
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
How Delhi's new draft bill seeks to regulate private school fees & why schools are apprehensive
ThePrint explains what the draft bill is all about, why the Delhi government is pushing for it and why private schools are wary of the move. Amid a wave of protests by parents over alleged arbitrary fee hikes by private schools, the Delhi Cabinet Tuesday passed the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, to rein in unregulated fee practices and increase accountability. New Delhi: A new draft bill aimed at regulating private school fees by giving parents greater say in fee-related decisions was cleared by the Delhi Cabinet earlier this week. However, while the government touts it as a step toward transparency and affordability, private institutions view it as a threat to their autonomy and are demanding clearer guidelines. The draft bill, which is yet to be released in public domain, seeks to increase parents' representation at each level of the decision making process for the fees with the aim to restore 'trust' among them. It also proposes financial penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh for violations, with escalating penalties for continued non-compliance. It further aims to establish an approved fee structure for a duration of three academic years, offering predictability and financial stability for families. While Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has hailed the bill as a 'victory for parents', private school associations have pushed back, insisting that the 'autonomy of private institutions must be respected and preserved'. According to Delhi government, the Directorate of Education (DoE) received numerous complaints from parents and students about unauthorised fee hikes and harassment over non-payment of dues in private unaided recognised schools. Many private schools in New Delhi have reportedly hiked their annual fees this year by 10-15 percent, and some by even up to 20 percent. In response, 29 zonal-level inspection teams led by Sub-Divisional Magistrates were deployed to investigate these schools using a standardised checklist. As of 28 April, 970 schools have been inspected, and over 150 fee hike-related complaints from more than 70 schools have been registered. Show-cause notices have been issued to these schools under provisions of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973. The government also emphasised that the 1973 Act has become 'outdated' and insufficient to address current challenges in fee regulation, as it lacks clarity on the actions the DoE can take based on returns submitted by private unaided schools, often leading to legal disputes when the DoE attempts to curb fee hikes without prior approval. According to DoE officials, the draft bill also proposes considering factors, such as the institution's location, quality of infrastructure, academic performance and financial needs, when determining the fee structure. Also Read: Furious parents are rallying outside Delhi schools over 'arbitrary fee hikes, segregation over AC charges' How the draft bill seeks to regulate fees The draft bill seeks to establish a clear and transparent framework for regulating the fees charged by private unaided recognised schools in the capital. The legislation proposes a three-tier committee system designed to oversee fee structures and address grievances. These committees include a School-Level Fee Regulation Committee, a District Fee Appellate Committee, and a Revision Committee, each with distinct roles to ensure fairness and accountability. It also sets a timeline of 30 days for all these committees to resolve disputes. The School-Level Fee Regulation Committee will be established annually in each private school, chaired by a representative of the school management, with the principal serving as secretary. It will also include three teachers, five parents selected through a lottery, and a nominee from the Director of Education as observer. The parent representatives should also have members from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. The panel will be responsible for reviewing fee structures and addressing grievances at the school level, with parents restricted to serving no more than two consecutive terms. It is required to be constituted by 31 July every year to determine the fee structure for the next academic session. The District Fee Appellate Committee, headed by the Deputy Director of Education, will hear appeals from both schools and parents concerning decisions made by the school-level committee. It will include education department representatives, as well as two teachers and two parents. Finally, the Revision Committee, established at the state level and chaired by the Director of Education, will act as the final appellate body. This committee will include education experts, accountants, and representatives from both schools and parents. According to the government, the decisions made by the Revision Committee will be binding for three academic years, providing a definitive resolution to fee-related disputes. The bill seeks to prevent schools from taking coercive actions against students for non-payment of fees, such as removing names from rolls, withholding examination results, denying access to classes or activities, or subjecting students to public humiliation or psychological harassment. In cases of non-compliance, the bill proposes hefty financial penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh, with provisions for recovering fines through the attachment and sale of the school management's movable and immovable assets. What schools and parents say Several private schools have expressed concerns about the loss of autonomy and the potential bias in giving parents a larger role in the fee regulation process. Bharat Arora, president of the Action Committee Unaided Private Recognised Schools—an umbrella organisation representing over 400 schools in Delhi—said that while schools await the official document for a thorough review of its impact on parents, staff and schools, they remain committed to the welfare and holistic development of their students. 'While private schools play a crucial role in nation-building, it is equally important that the autonomy of these institutions is respected and preserved. We look forward to engaging constructively once all the details are made available,' he said. The principal of a private school in South Delhi said, on the condition of anonymity, that the school has been providing air-conditioned classrooms at the request of parents, along with dedicated labs for extracurricular activities and a new skill lab, as mandated by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). However, the principal expressed concern about the government's proposed fee regulations: 'As we understand it, schools will only be allowed to revise their fees once every three years. How will schools function under such constraints? We receive complaints from parents if the ACs stop working for even five minutes, yet they don't want the fees to be increased to cover such expenses.' The principal of another well-known private school questioned how institutions will be able to implement the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 if they are required to maintain the same fee structure for three consecutive years. 'Schools need a steady flow of funds to support ongoing infrastructure upgrades, enhance sports facilities, equip smart classrooms, and uphold safety measures like CCTV installation. How can we sustain these essential developments without the ability to adjust fees annually?' the principal remarked. Meanwhile, Aparajita Gautam, president of the Delhi Parents Association, welcomed the proposed legislation, but voiced concerns over certain provisions. She praised the inclusion of financial penalties and the 30-day deadline for compliance as positive steps, but questioned why the bill does not impose a cap on fee hikes. 'There should be a clear limit on how much schools can increase fees. Also, the bill must specify that any penalties should be paid directly by the school management, not from school funds meant for students,' she told ThePrint. Gautam also called for greater transparency and accountability in how parent representatives are chosen. She argued that instead of a lottery system, parents should elect their representatives through a voting process to ensure true representation. Meanwhile, activists are calling for a public consultation on the bill. Advocate Ashok Agrawal, a strong proponent of the Right to Education, said, 'The bill should be made available for broader consultation. Otherwise, it will just become another empty gesture, like previous attempts by the government to regulate fees.' Current rules in Delhi, other states Until now, fee regulation in Delhi applied only to private schools operating on land allotted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). These schools, under their lease agreements, were required to seek prior approval from the DoE before raising fees. The DoE would assess their financial statements and grant approval, only if the school was found to be under financial stress. However, many schools have challenged the DoE's rejections in the Delhi High Court in recent years, leading to prolonged legal battles and calls for a more uniformly enforceable policy. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood has said that the new draft bill draws inspiration from models in other states, particularly the Rajasthan Schools (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2016. This law mandates the formation of School-Level Fee Committees, comprising parents and school representatives, to decide on fee structures, which remain fixed for three academic years. Appeals are reviewed by higher regulatory bodies, and non-compliance attracts hefty penalties. Sood also cited the Uttar Pradesh Self-Financed Independent Schools (Fee Regulation) Act, 2018, which applies to schools charging annual fees above Rs 20,000, and establishes district-level fee regulatory committees headed by the District Magistrate to ensure oversight and transparency in fee decisions. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Charaka Samhita to Arthashastra, new NCERT Class 7 science book highlights India's scientific heritage
