New Delhi, 1 April 2022: On 30 March 2022, the Punjab Chief Minister – Bhagwant Mann – announced that all private schools in Punjab will not be allowed to hike their fees for the session of 2022-23. The private schools are also prohibited from forcing parents and children to buy their school books and uniforms from specific shops.
| Announcement Date | 30 March 2022 |
| Actions taken in 2017 to stop the practice of hiking private school fee | In 2017, Punjab State Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Rules was put into force to cap the rate of the fee hike done by private schools |
| Actions taken in 2019 to stop the practice of hiking private school fee | In 2019, the school education department had prohibited the sale of books and uniforms in private schools. |
| Actions taken in 2022 to stop the practice of hiking private school fee | Now, in 2022, the state government has prohibited private schools from hiking their fees in the 2022-23 academic session and also stopped the schools from forcing parents and children to buy their school books and uniforms from specific shops. |
पंजाब में शिक्षा इतनी महंगी हो गई कि आम लोगों की पहुंच से दूर होती जा रही है।
इसलिए आज हमने फैसला लिया है कि कोई प्राइवेट स्कूल इस सेशन में फीस नहीं बढ़ा सकेगा और किसी एक दुकान से किताबें खरीदने के लिए मजबूर नहीं करेगा।
हम मनुष्य के तीसरे नेत्र विद्या को व्यापार नहीं बनने देंगे pic.twitter.com/WycWPdMVrG
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) March 30, 2022
Ban on Private School Fee Hike in Punjab: Details
- The aim of prohibiting fee hiking and buying of books and uniforms is to make education more affordable for all.
- The management of private schools cannot increase their fees by even a rupee.
- A comprehensive school fee policy will be formulated in the coming days after discussion with all stakeholders, including parents of schoolchildren, school management, and principals of private schools.
- As per the CM, parents are more than willing to provide quality education to their children. However, due to the unnecessary fee hikes, education has become costly and unaffordable.
- Due to this, parents are forced to either get their wards dropped from schools or provide such education which does not help them earn a livelihood in future.
- No private school in Punjab will be allowed to force parents and students into purchasing school books and school uniforms from any particular shop.
- Depending upon the population of a particular town or city, private schools will have to provide children and their parents with addresses of all shops selling uniforms and books.
- A policy will be issued regarding the purchase of books and uniforms in private schools.
Note:
- Both the issues of fee hike and forceful purchase of uniforms are recurring ones in the state of Punjab. Many parents have complained regarding the fee hike in Punjab private schools and the buying of school books and uniforms from one preferred shop.
- In 2017, the Punjab State Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Rules was put into force to cap the rate of the fee hike done by private schools.
- In 2019, the school education department had prohibited the sale of books and uniforms in private schools.
Ban on Private School Fee Hike in Punjab – FAQs
What is the announcement regarding private schools in Punjab?
Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that all private schools in Punjab are not allowed to hike their fees for the session of 2022-23. The private schools are also prohibited from forcing parents and children to buy their school books and uniforms from specific shops.
What is the aim of prohibiting private schools from indulging in fee hikes?
The aim of prohibiting fee hiking and buying of books and uniforms is to make education more affordable for all.
What are private schools in Punjab supposed to do instead of hiking fees?
Depending upon the population of a particular town or city, private schools will have to provide children and their parents with addresses of all shops selling uniforms and books.
Have any other actions been taken by the Punjab government to stop the practice of charging a hiked fee from parents?
Yes. In 2017, the Punjab State Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Rules was put into force to cap the rate of the fee hike done by private schools. Also, in 2019, the school education department had prohibited the sale of books and uniforms in private schools.
