Delhi Gets Relief: Cabinet Approves School Fee Act to Curb Private Schools' Arbitrary Fee Hikes
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : The School Fees Act in Delhi has received the Cabinet's approval. However, it was not on the agenda. It was told that Minister Ashish Sood brought the table agenda, which was approved. Till now there was no such act in Delhi to control the determination and increase of fees of private schools. Education Minister Ashish Sood said that the Chief Minister also issued a notice to the schools after listening to the problems of the parents regarding the fee hike. But, a law was required to regulate the fee hike. The cabinet has approved the Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees-2025 for this. It was told that the government has set an example of good governance by bringing this bill in 65 days. This will provide relief to the children studying in 1677 schools and their parents. Before this, no government paid attention to controlling the fee hike. There was no provision in the 1973 Act to stop the arbitrariness of schools.
The decision of the committee will be for three years This bill will be implemented by forming a three-tier committee. At the first level, a 10-member fee regulation committee will be formed at the school level, which will include the school management as well as five parents. Scheduled castes and women will also be a mandatory part of it. It will decide on fee hike after considering the school building and 18 other points. It will be formed on July 21 for the next session. It will submit its report within 21 days. The committee's decision will be for three years.
The district level committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the Deputy Director of Education. If the school level committee does not give its decision, then the district level committee will hear it. If the report is not submitted within 45 days, then it will go to the state level committee. The state level committee will have seven members. If 15 percent of the parents of the school do not agree with the decision of the school level committee, then they can appeal to the district level committee. On violating the rules, the school can be fined Rs 1 to 10 lakh along with cancellation of recognition and dissolution of the management and bringing it under the government. In the 1973 Act, there was no provision to prevent harassment of students for not paying fees. On receiving such a complaint, a fine of Rs 50,000 is imposed on each child. If the complaint is not resolved within 20 days, the fine will be tripled and thereafter cancellation of recognition.
