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The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP backs school fee Bill, AAP seeks House scrutiny
The Hindu Bureau The Delhi Assembly on Tuesday saw a heated discussion on the School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025, with the Opposition demanding that it be sent to a Select Committee to incorporate feedback from parents and other stakeholders. The debate came a day after Education Minister Ashish Sood tabled the Bill, which aims to regulate fee hikes in private schools. BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay lauded it as a 'revolutionary step' in Delhi's education history, while party colleague Ajay Kumar Mahawar said, 'With this Bill, CM Rekha Gupta is wiping away the tears of lakhs of parents.' However, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Prem Chauhan criticised the composition of the proposed fee regulation committees, pointing out that six out of 11 members would be from the school, potentially compromising impartiality. 'There should have been more parents than administrators,' he said, cautioning that the multilayered redress process could result in delayed justice. 'By the time a complaint is addressed, the child may have already passed out or left the school,' Mr. Chauhan said. He reiterated AAP's demand to refer the Bill to a Select Committee with members from both the BJP and AAP, and called for a freeze on fees for the current academic year, citing delays in the Bill's introduction. Responding to the Opposition, BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht said public turnout and support for the Bill demonstrated its urgency and relevance. Parent protests While the Assembly debated the Bill, some parent groups held protests and submitted their recommendations to Mr. Sood. One key demand of the protesters was that any parent, not just 15% of them, should be allowed to raise an issue with the district-level committee. On fee-related clauses, parents objected to subjective criteria such as the school's location and educational standard. They demanded a uniform fee structure and standardised fee heads across all schools to avoid ambiguity. 'False narratives' The Education Minister's office said he had met parents ahead of the Assembly debate and dismissed AAP's criticism as 'false narratives'. He clarified that the Bill supplements the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, by introducing stronger checks and balances to protect students and parents. The Minister assured that the Bill provides for three layers of oversight and includes penalties for violations.
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi assembly session on May 13 and 14; school fee bill to be introdudced
A two-day special session of Delhi assembly is likely to be held on May 13 and 14, during which the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill 2025 will be taken up, among other issues in the city, several MLAs aware of the meeting said on Sunday. A formal notification regarding the session is likely to be issued on Monday, officials said. 'We were informed that session will be called on May 13 and 14. Some bills may be related to Delhi's development, education, and others could address issues like waterlogging with the monsoon approaching. Although the specifics have not yet been disclosed, it has been informed that the assembly session will take place on these two days,' Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ravinder Negi said. Other topics that will be discussed are the Vaya Vandan Yojana for senior citizens, Swachhta mission, and various other initiatives of the Delhi government which were introduced in the past two months, BJP's Malviya Nagar MLA Satish Upadhyay said. A legislature group meeting of Delhi BJP was conducted at the Delhi Secretariat on Sunday and discussions were held over the bills and issues to be taken up during the two-day session, MLAs present at the meeting said, adding that chief minister Rekha Gupta and other ministers were also present at the meeting. Upadhyay — former vice chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) — said that the fee regulations bill is regarding the uncontrolled fee hikes in Delhi schools. 'We are not against the schools, but we want to help parents. There should be regulation and a three-tier system will be introduced to manage how fee should be increased and monitored,' he said. Greater Kailash MLA Shikha Rai said, 'All MLAs were given directions to take the welfare schemes to the people. From Ayushman Bharat to 20-day sanitation drive, we have been asked to take part and promote these initiatives....A new bill regarding reforms in school education is being brought (to assembly), as we have seen uncontrolled hikes in school fees.' On April 29, the Delhi cabinet approved the draft bill — Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill 2025 —to regulate fees in private schools in the Capital. The bill will apply to all 1,677 private and unaided schools in the city and seeks to make the process of fee determination by the schools transparent and ensure the involvement of parents in the process. The bill was introduced in the wake of protests held by parents from various parts of the city flagging exhorbitant school fee hikes in private schools. This is likely to be the third assembly session of the newly elected BJP government in Delhi. The first session started on February 24 where all the newly elected MLAs took oath. It saw the election of the Speaker and an address by LG along with the tabling of CAG reports. The second session or the Budget session started on March 24.
