Will All 1,700 Private Schools in Delhi Be Subject to Fee Regulation?

New Delhi, Aug 15 (NationPress) Delhi's Education Minister Ashish Sood hosted a discussion event titled “Parents’ Town Hall” in Janakpuri Assembly, where he announced that all 1,700 private schools would be governed by the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025.

During the session, Sood pointed out that due to a gap in the 1973 law, only 300 of the private schools were previously under fee regulation.

“With the implementation of the new law, all private schools will now be included under fee regulation. The process also sets specific timelines – committee decisions by July 15, district-level decisions by July 30, and a final decision by September. If no decision is reached in 45 days, the case will be referred to the appellate committee,” he stated.

Sood elaborated on crucial details related to the Education Bill, including its implementation, the rights of parents, and how they can contribute to this significant change. Parents received thorough information on these matters.

Approximately 200 parents from Janakpuri participated in the event, engaging with the Minister about the Education Bill and seeking clarification on various provisions. They also offered valuable suggestions and requested the Minister to address their concerns promptly.

The Education Minister reassured parents that every child in the capital would receive quality education and that no child would be denied education based on financial constraints.

He remarked that while private schools are vital for Delhi, ensuring transparency and accountability in fee setting is equally crucial.

During the Monsoon Session of the Assembly, the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 was passed with significant support.

This Bill aims to eliminate arbitrary practices by private schools and guarantees transparency in fee determination, active parent participation, and authority over fee increases.

Should any school raise its fees without government consent, it will incur a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, with a double penalty imposed if excess charges are not refunded.

The Director of Education will be endowed with powers akin to an SDM to ensure uniform action against all schools.

Sood criticized previous administrations for failing to bring transparency to the education sector and for not establishing a robust fee regulation framework. He asserted that those who claimed to be the architects of an “education revolution” were merely involved in a liquor scandal.

Our government has drafted this Bill following discussions with parents and educational specialists, aiming to curb the commercialization of education and safeguard children’s aspirations, he noted.

He informed parents that in the new fee determination process for private schools, they and other stakeholders will have direct involvement and a defined role. This initiative will not only enhance transparency but also shield parents from exorbitant fees.

The Minister further stated that parents opted for private schools because the past government, under the pretense of an “education revolution”, made no substantial advancements and misled the public through advertisements.

He emphasized that if government schools had superior classrooms, environments, and facilities, no parent would pay Rs 10,000 monthly in fees. Under the new law, various stakeholders – including parents, students, teachers, non-teaching staff, school management, and government representatives – will participate in the fee determination process.