Latest news with #FeeRegulationOrdinance2025
India Today
20-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
School fee hike sparks protest by parents in Delhi, demand reforms
Hundreds of parents gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 to protest against what they called arbitrary fee hikes and lack of transparency in private under the banner of United Parents' Voice (UPV), the protest comes after months of unacknowledged efforts to engage with authorities on the to UPV, this was not the first time parents had tried to reach out. On June 30, 2025, a group waited for over three hours to meet Delhi Chief Minister Rekha While a small delegation was granted a brief interaction and promised further discussion, no follow-up communication occurred despite formal part of the protest, parents submitted a detailed memorandum addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and Education Minister, highlighting several key concerns. These included unauthorised fee hikes, alleged misuse of school funds, and violations of student memorandum also objected to the recently passed Fee Regulation Ordinance 2025, which protestors claimed was implemented without sufficient public DEMANDS RAISED BY PARENTSAmong the major demands listed were:Rollback of unratified fee increasesIndependent audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and forensic expertsGovernment-supervised parent-teacher association (PTA) elections for inclusive governanceAction against schools that shame or penalise students over unpaid fees, in violation of Article 21A of the ConstitutionParents also called for schools to shift to a monthly fee collection system, stating that lump-sum payments put undue financial pressure on advocated for all infrastructure purchases to be routed through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to ensure cost-effective and transparent significant demand was for public disclosure of approved fee structures by the Directorate of Education on both government and school CALLS FOR FAIRNESS AND DIALOGUEAccording to Rahul Gupta, a parent and UPV member, the protest reflected the community's frustration after exhausting all formal channels.'We have tried all channels, emails, meetings, even written representations to the highest offices. Today's gathering is a collective call for fairness and dignity in our children's education,' he reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful civic action and urged the government to initiate an open and transparent dialogue with concerned group also mentioned that earlier appeals had been sent via email and speed post to the President, Prime Minister, and Union Home Minister, seeking immediate parents continue to push for greater accountability in private education, they have vowed to persist with peaceful advocacy until meaningful reforms are achieved.(With inputs from PTI)- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Desperate cry for children's future': Parents demonstrate at Jantar Mantar amid fee hike row
'Parents Are Not ATMs', 'Don't Sell Education, Serve It', and 'Education, Not Exploitation' were among the slogans on placards as hundreds of parents of students from private schools across Delhi gathered at Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning. Alleging arbitrary fee hikes, opaque school finances, and harassment of students over unpaid dues, a memorandum was submitted to top Delhi officials with 10 key demands, said protesters. CAG audits, scrapping of the Delhi government's Fee Regulation Ordinance 2025, and monthly fee collection — instead of advance payment — were included in the key demands raised in the memorandum. Parents alleged that their demands have not been addressed despite holding meetings and writing to the authorities. Saturday's demonstration was held under the banner of United Parents' Voice (UPV). Other key demands highlighted in the memorandum are 'putting an end to harassment and discrimination against children in schools, fair and transparent elections to Parent-Teacher Associations, formal tenders for vendor services and school infrastructure, revocation of CA licences in fraudulent school audits, mandatory online display of fees,' said a protesting parent at the venue. 'This isn't just a protest …it is a desperate cry for our children's dignity, rights and future,' said a protester, adding that the parents were forced to take to the streets after 'trying everything'. The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Ordinance, 2025, on June 10 amid concerns over arbitrary fee hikes by the private schools. Since then, parents have protested at least twice in June, making Saturday's protest the third such outcry. According to Education Minister Ashish Sood's previous announcements, the Ordinance regulates fee hikes, allowing only one hike every three years, subject to approval by school-level committees. It also empowers oversight bodies with fines up to Rs 10 lakh. There has been a three-tier appeals structure that has been set up via school-level committees, district appellate body and state-level body. It also mandates refunds and penalties within defined timelines if excess fees are charged. However, senior AAP leaders have strongly opposed the move, stating that it is 'anti-parent' and alleging that the parents' voices were ignored as the Bill was drafted 'in secrecy'. Some parents,who have been protesting against the Ordinance, earlier claimed during a protest that no consultations were held to address their concerns in the Ordinance.
