Soon after the announcement of curbing arbitrary fee hike of private schools in Punjab, the government has taken rapid steps to convert this decision into law. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has written a letter to the Secretary of the School Education Department and issued instructions to make the fees of private schools transparent. This decision of the Punjab Government will provide relief to more than 32 lakh students and their families from the financial burden.
Bhagwant Mann government has fixed the maximum limit of fee increase at 5 percent. Schools that have increased fees beyond the prescribed 15 percent limit in the last three years will have to return the extra amount collected. This is a step taken by the Punjab government to curb profiteering in the education sector.
Decision taken to stop profiteering
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that this decision has been taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to strictly curb profiteering. Education is a sacred and public welfare work, not a commercial business run to earn profit. He further said that this principle has also been supported by the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court has repeatedly clarified that private institutions have the right to charge reasonable fees, but commercialization and excessive profiteering in the education sector is unacceptable.
Instructions for preparing comprehensive proposal
Under the proposed law, the Punjab government will fix the annual fee limit on private schools. According to the new framework, private schools will not be allowed to increase fees by more than 5 percent in a year. This law will also provide retroactive relief to parents. Any private school that has increased fees by more than the prescribed limit of 15 per cent for three consecutive years will be legally required to refund the excess fees to parents.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that to protect the interests of the citizens, the government will bring in a legislative framework that can ensure accountability of private institutions and curb arbitrary fee increases. This matter is being given top priority and the department has been directed to prepare a comprehensive proposal for consideration of the Cabinet as soon as possible.
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