Latest news with #TransparencyinFixationandRegulationofFees)Bill
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt plans ordinance to regulate pvt school fee hikes
New Delhi: Delhi govt is likely to introduce an ordinance for Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, aimed at curbing arbitrary fee hikes in private schools. The ordinance could be brought within a week, a senior govt official said. In a state assembly, an ordinance is a law issued when the legislature is not in session. The state legislature can then choose to approve the ordinance, reject it, or modify it. According to sources in Delhi govt, a proposal in this regard has already been sent to the law department. The ordinance would be an interim measure operating for a limited time, before the bill is brought in the monsoon session of Delhi Assembly, the sources said. The draft bill was earlier planned to be passed in a special session of Delhi Assembly scheduled for May 13-14. However, the session did not take place. A Delhi govt official said the draft bill aims to set guidelines for all schools in the city to regulate school fees. It will have strict provisions for schools found increasing fees, such as a Rs 50,000 fine to be imposed by Director of Education in the case of each student. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo The administration will also have the power to seal and sell the school property in case of repeated violations and unpaid fines. There will also be a provision to double the amount of the fine if it is not paid within a fixed timeframe, the sources said. The draft advocates the establishment of a school-level fee regulation committee, a district fee appellate committee, and a revision committee to oversee fee structures and address grievances. According to the draft, every school shall constitute, within two months of the passage of the bill, a school-level fee regulation committee for each academic year. The panel will comprise representatives of the school management, the principal, three teachers and five parents. The observer would be Director of Education of the committee. In the district fee appellate committee, the chairperson will be the deputy Director of Education and the member secretary would be the deputy Director of Education (zonal). It will comprise a chartered accountant, parents and teachers. In the revision committee, there would be an eminent person from the education sector.
India Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Parents allege Delhi school denied 31 students entry despite clearing fee dues
Parents of 31 students enrolled in a private school in Delhi's Dwarka on Tuesday alleged that their children were not allowed to enter the campus over fee-related issues, even as the Delhi government recently introduced a bill to regulate fee hikes in parents' group, in a statement, said that the school denied entry to the students despite having cleared the claimed that fee cheques submitted for April 2025 were never deposited by the school, which is why they paid the fee for May through net banking. It stated that the April cheques are still lying at the school and questioned why the payments were not processed if fee payment was the issue."This is not the first time such things have happened. Parents have been dealing with this kind of pressure for years," the statement said, adding that written complaints have been submitted to the Directorate of Education and local April 17, the Delhi High Court expressed concern over how the private school handled students during the fee-hike court examined an inspection report by a team led by the district magistrate (southwest), which mentioned instances of unfair treatment of this, the Court directed the school to let all students attend regular classes and ensure they are not separated or denied access to any school court also instructed the Directorate of Education and the district magistrate to carry out regular inspections and take action in case of any violations in the parents, in the statement, said, "The absence of proper response from authorities has allowed the school to continue with such actions".There was no immediate response available from the Education Department over the the school authority refused to comment on the growing complaints from parents about arbitrary fee hikes by private institutions, the Delhi government announced the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, on April bill aims to bring more transparency and accountability to the way private schools handle their fee Watch
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Parents meet Delhi CM, seek furrther discussion on issue of fee hike by private schools
Parents from across Delhi gathered at the Secretariat on Saturday to meet Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood over the proposed Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. The legislation, which seeks to introduce transparency in private school fee hikes, received praise from many in attendance, along with calls for further consultation. Describing the legislation as a 'decisive and historic step,' Gupta said, 'For 27 years, private schools had been arbitrarily increasing fees without any checks or clear regulations. Previous governments had no concrete legal mechanism to control such practices.' She told the parents that if any school harasses them over fees, they are welcome to report the matter directly to her office or to the education minister. Gupta acknowledged that implementing the Bill and its framework would take time. 'There will be a backlog, but there is no doubt that in the coming years, Delhi government schools will be good… this government promises that you (parents) will not have to constantly worry about your children's education,' she told the parents. Sood said that the problem of fee hikes had persisted due to lack of adequate schooling alternatives. 'The problem of the fee hike has been a supply and demand issue… The previous government neglected the quality of government schools,' he said. During the interaction, while many parents welcomed the move as a long-awaited reform, others, including parents from schools like DPS Dwarka and Birla Vidya Niketan in Pushpa Vihar, urged the government to involve parent bodies more actively before the Bill is tabled in the Assembly. Parents of DPS Dwarka students requested changes in parents' representation in school-level committees, timelines for fee approvals and transparent functioning of fee regulation committees, among others.
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
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lack of transparency in formulating fee bill: Atishi slams Delhi govt over delayed implementation
NEW DELHI: A day after the Delhi government announced the approval of the draft Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, Leader of Opposition Atishi dismissed it as mere 'eyewash,' claiming that its implementation is only planned for the next academic year. The Delhi Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the draft Bill on Tuesday. Once tabled and passed in the Assembly, it will become law and introduce strict regulations to control arbitrary and excessive fee hikes in Delhi's 1,677 private schools. The move is expected to bring significant relief to parents. In her letter to the Chief Minister, Atishi questioned what immediate steps are being taken to address this year's fee hikes. She urged the government to instruct schools to roll back any unjustified increases and additional charges for the current academic session. She criticised the lack of transparency in the Bill's formulation, noting that no draft has been made public, nor has any consultative process been revealed. 'So far, we only know what's being reported in the media. There is no official document for stakeholders to review,' she wrote. The LoP claimed that the Bill aims to regulate fee increases starting in the academic year 2026–27, Atishi questioned what actions are being taken over the excessive and arbitrary fee hikes by private schools this year. 'It leaves the most important question unanswered: what happens to the fees already hiked by private schools this year? What will happen to all the parents who are facing these problems in the current academic year, 2025–26? Will they be forced to pay the arbitrary fees and charges introduced by schools in April 2025?' she asked in her letter. Atishi wrote, 'This unprecedented situation put thousands of children and their parents in extremely distressing situations. Students were debarred from classes if they did not pay the hiked fees, parents were seen protesting in extreme heat outside schools and even went to the court'.
