Shocking decision on Private Schools

New Delhi, June 08: In order to check private school fee hikes, the Centre is planning to bring in a regulation to check random fee hikes by private schools, officials reported.

The report quotes an official, who has said that the Centre is consulting all stakeholders in order to build a consensus before it implements the move.

Earlier this year, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government approved an 'ordinance for self-financed independent schools (regulation of fees) bill 2018' to tighten the noose around schools charging staggering fees.

The law restricts private schools from raising fees beyond 8%. The ordinance is applicable to all private schools, including minority institutions, affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and the UP board.

As per the UP ordinance, schools are not only stopped from arbitrary fee hike, but are also not allowed to charge any capitation fee. But the Centre is looking at some additional features such restrictions on "charging admission every year and changing school uniforms annually".

Apart from prohibitive fines for flouting rules, the Centre is also looking at provisions to de-recognise schools for three violations.