Latest news with #DelhiSchoolEducation(TransparencyinFixationandRegulationofFees)Bill
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Parents welcome Delhi's new school fee bill to curb rising education costs
In a significant move to address long-standing concerns over rising school fees, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood presented the "Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025" in the Delhi Assembly. The proposed legislation aims to tackle the issue of arbitrary fee hikes by private schools and to end the commercialisation of education. This initiative seeks to provide relief to countless students and their families across the national the assembly, Sood stated, "Today, I have come here with a permanent solution to the problems faced by millions of parents and children in Delhi." This bill is seen as a pivotal step in shifting the focus of education from profit-making to learning and AS A SACRED DUTYEducation Minister Sood emphasised the duty to provide accessible education, describing it as "a sacred duty -- a duty we must fulfil for the progress and prosperity of our motherland." The bill, according to Sood, is an attempt to honour the vision of Dr. Mukherjee by ensuring education becomes a pathway to a better future rather than a financial burden on REACTIONS Parents of school students expressed their gratitude towards Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood for their efforts in passing the bill. Jahanvi Kaur, a parent, remarked, "No minister has ever had such a commendable performance. The fact that this bill was passed is a very wonderful thing."CHALLENGES ADDRESSEDThe bill addresses critical issues such as the unchecked commercialisation of education. During the session, Sood declared, "Education is not a thing to be sold. This bill aims to halt the commercialisation of education."The bill was introduced during the first day of the Monsoon session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly, which started on Monday and is scheduled to run until August 8. The session may be extended if necessary to accommodate legislative FOR THE FUTURESood further elaborated on the vision behind the bill, stating, "This bill is a small effort on our part to honour Dr. Mukherjee's vision and to ensure that education does not become a burden on the people of India, but instead becomes a path leading them to a better future."A NEW ERA IN EDUCATIONThe introduction of the "Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025" marks a significant milestone in Delhi's education policy. By regulating fee hikes and ending the commercialisation of education, the bill aspires to make quality education accessible to all, fulfilling the need for educational equity and setting a precedent for other states to follow.(With PTI inputs)- Ends
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
School fee bill ‘anti-parent', pro-management': Delhi Congress
NEW DELHI: Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Tuesday criticised the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, calling it 'anti-parent and pro-management.' Speaking at a protest near the Vidhan Sabha, Yadav alleged the bill empowers private schools to arbitrarily hike fees without adequate parental oversight. He claimed the bill lacks rollback provisions for fee hikes imposed earlier this year and accused the BJP government of favouring school managements. Yadav also flagged the clause requiring at least 15% of parents to jointly contest a fee hike as an impractical hurdle. 'Despite its promise to prevent student harassment over unpaid fees, the bill lacks a credible enforcement mechanism and parents remain unconvinced,' he said.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Student leaves Bluebells School after not paying fee for four years, now court orders parents to pay Rs 1.2 lakh with interest
Synopsis A Delhi court has ordered a parent to pay ₹1.2 lakh in pending school fees, even as the state government tables a bill to regulate private school fee hikes. The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 aims to curb arbitrary increases and involve parents in decision-making. Critics, including AAP and parent bodies, say the bill fails to protect families and gives more power to school managements. The legislation has stirred sharp debate both inside and outside the Assembly. Agencies high nursersy school fee A civil court in Delhi has directed a father to clear outstanding school fees amounting to over ₹1.2 lakh, with 10 percent interest. The student had attended Bluebells School International in south Delhi. Civil Judge Yashu Khurana said the suit filed by the school went unchallenged, as the parent, Virender Rana, did not appear to contest it. 'The case of the school stands duly proved by virtue of unchallenged suit and the documents placed on record,' said Advocate Atul Jain, appearing for the school told the court that the father had failed to pay fees across four academic years: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. The student eventually left the school in 2022 while in Class VII. In its plea, the school submitted that Rana 'under the shield of the directorate of education order dated Aug 1, 2018, regarding the fee structure of the school for the year 2017-18 and in the guise of the fact that the issue regarding the same was sub judice before Delhi High Court, long delayed the payment of the dues.'The school also argued that it relied entirely on parental fees to function. The judge observed, 'Perusal of the record shows that the present suit was filed on Oct 16, 2024, whereas the cause of action last arose upon the plaintiff on Feb 7, 2024, when the defendant made the last payment against the outstanding amount.'On the same day that this ruling gained attention, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood presented a new bill in the Assembly aimed at regulating private school fees. The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, introduced during the Monsoon Session, promises to bring more oversight to how private unaided schools set and raise their fees.'Education is not a thing to be sold. This bill aims to halt the commercialisation of education. We are bringing the bill to take action against those mafias who are selling education,' said draft legislation, which had received Cabinet approval in April, covers all 1,677 private unaided schools in the proposes structural changes, including a grievance redressal system, caps on fee increases, parent representation in decisions, and penalties of up to ₹10 lakh for violations. Sood called it a 'permanent solution to a long-ignored issue that affects millions of parents and children in Delhi.'He also added, 'This bill is a small effort on our part to honour Dr. Mukherjee's vision and to ensure that education does not become a burden on the people of India, but instead becomes a path leading them to a better future.'The new bill introduces a three-tier regulatory framework meant to vet fee hike proposals and resolve private school must form a committee by 15 July each year. It will include five randomly selected parents from the Parent-Teacher Association, with at least two women and one member from SC, ST or other backward communities. A representative from the Directorate of Education (DoE) will also be on the panel, which is chaired by a school management must submit their fee proposal to this committee by 31 July. If approved by 15 September, that fee structure stays fixed for the next three academic if at least 15 percent of the school's parents disagree, they can escalate the matter to the district-level appellate committee by 30 committee will examine disputes and must deliver a decision within 45 days. If the conflict is unresolved, the final appeal lies with the Revision highest-tier body will give binding rulings that will remain valid for three years. According to Section 8 of the bill, criteria for setting fees will include the school's location, infrastructure, staff salaries and revenue 12 sets the penalties. An unauthorised fee hike could attract a fine between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 lakh, doubling every 20 days until compliance. Persistent offenders may be forced to refund overcharged fees and could lose school Delhi government argues that the bill will increase transparency and curb profiteering. It mandates schools to submit audited financials and infrastructure costs before proposing any fee hike. It also allows the Director of Education to order fee rollbacks and refunds if the hike is deemed many parents and political opponents remain of Opposition Atishi has strongly criticised the bill. 'After letting private schools hike fees unchecked for four months, the BJP now brings a sham bill that hands control to school owners, blocks parent voices, and protects profiteers,' she Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded that the bill be referred to a Select Committee and that all fee hikes for the 2024–25 academic year be frozen. Atishi also pointed out that introducing the bill after the academic session had already started allowed schools time to raise fees without parents' groups have raised questions about the bill's design. The biggest concern revolves around the 15 percent threshold required to challenge a school's fee decision. Critics argue that this is an unrealistically high bar and effectively prevents parents from raising objections.'Requiring a minimum of 15 percent of a school's parents to challenge the school-level Fee Regulatory Committee's decision before the district committee is nearly impossible. It effectively denies parents the right to contest arbitrary fee hikes,' said Ashok Agarwal, chairperson of the All India Parents Association, speaking to The worry about the selection process for the parent members on the committee. Some feel it opens the door to tokenism and weakens true bill does attempt to set clear limits: Schools can raise fees only once per academic year with prior approval They must disclose financial and operational data A three-stage complaints system is now in place Penalties are defined and severe for unauthorised hikes But gaps remain. There are no provisions to freeze current hikes, no retrospective control over hikes already enforced this year, and no strong deterrent against non-tuition charges. The school-led committees may also lack the independence needed for fair the bill does not provide safeguards for students who may face expulsion due to fee Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 is a long-awaited intervention in a space that has seen little regulation. It proposes systems where there were none. It talks about participation where decisions were once the big question is whether it does enough. For many parents, the answer may depend not just on the text of the law, but on how it plays out in classrooms, fee counters and committee court's ruling against Virender Rana is a timely reminder of the pressure many families face. The challenge for lawmakers now is to ensure that regulation means real relief, not just another layer of red tape.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Explained: Delhi School Education Bill, key provisions, three-tier watchdog, and whether it really reins in profiteering
दिल्ली स्कूल एजुकेशन बिल विधानसभा में आ चुका The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, tabled during the Monsoon Session of the Assembly, seeks to impose regulatory checks on private school fee structures. Marketed by the Delhi government as a step towards transparency and affordability, the legislation has triggered a polarised debate. While the government claims it aims to rein in arbitrary fee hikes, critics argue that it empowers private school managements and weakens accountability. Here's a detailed breakdown of the bill's provisions and the three-tier regulatory mechanism it proposes, and an examination of whether it meaningfully addresses the commercialisation of school education. Key provisions of the bill Here are the key provisions of the bill that students and other stakeholders must know: Annual fee hike cap Schools can raise fees only once per academic year and must obtain prior approval. A formal application must be submitted to the regulatory committee before increasing any fee component. Audited Financial Disclosures Mandatory Schools are required to submit audited financial statements, infrastructure cost details, and expenditure reports before proposing fee hikes. Fee rollbacks and refunds The bill includes provisions where excess or unjustified fees can be ordered to be refunded. In cases of violations, the Director of Education can issue orders to roll back increased fees. Penalties and fines Monetary penalties for non-compliance can go up to ₹5 lakh. In severe cases, schools could face de-recognition. Complaints redressal system Parents and stakeholders can lodge complaints directly with the fee committees. Three-tier regulatory framework The bill establishes a three-tier structure to oversee and decide on fee hikes and complaints: School-level fee committee Comprising school principal, management representatives, parents, and a teacher. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doctors Say Forgetting Names Isn't Normal - That's What's Causing It Memory Search Click Here Undo This body initiates the process of evaluating proposed fee hikes. However, its recommendations are not binding and are passed on to the next tier. Directorate of Education Committee Headed by the Director of Education. Reviews proposals forwarded by schools along with financial documentation. Holds authority to approve, modify, or reject proposed fee increases. Delhi Education Tribunal (Appellate Body) An independent appellate body for resolving disputes between parents and schools. Empowered to take up cases involving violations, complaints, and appeals against the Directorate's decisions. The controversy: Transparency or tokenism? While the government says the bill ensures accountability, the opposition—particularly Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)—calls it a "sham". Leader of Opposition Atishi criticised the bill for: Lacking provisions to freeze or roll back current fee hikes. Allowing schools to chair their own fee committees, raising concerns about impartiality. Being introduced after the academic session began, thereby letting schools raise fees without oversight in the interim. She alleged that the delay in tabling the bill (originally expected in April) allowed private schools to exploit a regulatory vacuum. Will it tackle commercialisation? What the Bill Attempts: Standardising fee hikes to once per year with government oversight. Increasing transparency by mandating financial disclosures. Creating an appellate structure for grievances, which was largely missing before. Where it falls short: School-dominated fee committees may limit objectivity. Absence of retrospective control on fee hikes already implemented this year. No strong provisions to prevent expulsion of students for non-payment of unjustified fees. Lacks clear caps on non-tuition fees, such as charges for activities or infrastructure. Conclusion The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, is a significant attempt to formalise fee regulation in a largely unregulated space. However, critics argue that it may offer only procedural transparency without tackling the deeper commercial motives that drive private education economics. Unless provisions are tightened to empower parents meaningfully and to insulate fee regulation from school influence, the bill may serve more as a compliance exercise than a tool to prevent profiteering in education. Whether this legislation truly curbs commercialisation or simply manages it with bureaucratic filters remains to be seen. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
