Centre To Follow UP Model: Schools Will Soon Have to Face The Law For Arbitrary Fee Hikes

Following the Uttar Pradesh model in this regard, the Centre is planning to regulate arbitrary fee hikes by private schools and other irregularities, and considering imposition of penalty or even cancel recognition in the case of violations, Times of India has reported.

A senior official said, the Centre is consulting all stakeholders and trying to build a consensus before the move is implemented. “It is for the states to regulate fees as the schools are registered there. The Central government is having internal discussions on this. It's also reaching out to states and other stakeholders for a consensus,” said the official.

This initiative comes in line with Uttar Pradesh (UP) government's successful implementation of legislation, brought in earlier this year, to regulate fees charged by 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.

The UP legislation restricts private schools from raising fees beyond eight per cent. The Centre is also looking at restricting the practice of “charging admission fee every year and changing school uniforms annually.”

As part of the new law, apart from prohibitive fines for flouting rules, the Centre may also bring in provisions to de-recognise schools for three violations.