Delhi School Fee Hike: On what basis will the fees be decided in Delhi schools? Rules are going to change..

Delhi School Fee Hike: Given the rampant increase in school fees in Delhi and the lack of transparency, the government has decided to implement the 'Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Act 2025'. Under this bill, the method of fixing the fees of 1,677 private and government-aided schools in Delhi will completely change. The government took this tough step due to complaints like arbitrary fee collection, an increase without reason, and the threat of depriving children of education.

Now the role of school, government officials, and parents will become clear with the new rule. This will make transparency and control possible in fee determination. The government believes that the implementation of this Act will not only control fees but will also bring accountability and balance in the entire education sector. This will reduce the financial burden of unnecessarily increasing fees on parents and will stop the arbitrariness of schools. The new law provides for the direct participation of parents in various decisions and immediate action in case of any irregularity.

How will fees be determined in Delhi schools?
Several factors are being considered for fee determination in Delhi schools-

1. Role of three-tier committee

Now, a 'fee determination committee' will be formed in every school with the partnership of parents, teachers, and representatives of the administration. This committee will discuss the fee proposed by the school, and the proposal will go to the government controller or directorate. Appeal and monitoring committees will also be formed at the district and state levels, so that any kind of irregularity can be debated and heard immediately.

On what basis will the school fees increase?

The school fees will be decided keeping in mind 18 parameters like chairmanship, quality of building, basic infrastructure, academic performance, and funding requirement. This will help in controlling only needy schools that increase fees to a reasonable extent. It will help in controlling schools that increase fees arbitrarily. According to the law, a fee increase will be possible only once every 3 years, and that too if a valid reason is found.

Role of parents and punishment in schools

Parents have been directly included in the fee determination process through the committee. They will now have the right to see the fee proposal, the rationale for expenditure, and the budget. They will be able to complain to the committee in case of any discrepancy. If a school increases fees without approval, a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh will be imposed on it. In case of repeated violations, the school's recognition can be cancelled.

Protection of children's interests

No school will deprive a student of education due to a fee dispute, nor will it be able to stop the transfer certificate. Along with this, there will be control on other fees like transport, uniform, and books. This will give relief to parents from sudden big expenses. In many cases, it came to light that children were given harsh punishment for a delay in paying school fees.

Possible challenges of the Delhi School Bill

Lack of implementation: For the bill to be effective, fair and time-bound functioning of the committees is necessary. If the committees show bias or there is delay, then parents may face obstacles in getting relief.

15% complaint requirement: Groups such as United Parents Voice have pointed out that getting 15% of parents to come together to complain against fee hikes can be difficult, especially in larger schools. This provision may make it difficult to effectively check large schools.

Lack of public consultation: Parent groups have complained about their views not being included in the draft Delhi school fee bill. This may lead to some aspects of the bill not matching the actual needs of parents.

Limited influence on large schools: Large and influential schools may exert pressure on committees or dilute the impact of the bill by introducing alternative fees (such as development fees), which may not provide the relief parents expect.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.