CHANDIGARH – In a move aimed at reining in the rising costs of private education, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that his government will introduce legislation to cap annual private school fee hikes at 5%.
The announcement follows a firm warning from the Chief Minister that the “arbitrary practices” and “school mafia” culture, which have long burdened parents, will no longer be tolerated in the state.
Legislative Crackdown on Fee Hikes
The proposed law, scheduled to be tabled during the upcoming session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, establishes a clear regulatory framework for school finances. Under the new policy, private institutions will be legally prohibited from increasing tuition fees by more than 5% in any given academic year.
In a move targeting past practices, the Chief Minister further stipulated that any school that has implemented fee increases exceeding 15% over the past three years will be mandated to issue refunds to parents.
Addressing the “School Mafia”
The impetus for this swift policy shift stems from the tragic suicide of a 17-year-old student in Amritsar. Chief Minister Mann described the student as a “bright and promising” individual, alleging that she was driven to take her own life due to intense harassment and pressure from school authorities regarding fee payments.
“We will not allow private schools to act with impunity,” Mann told reporters in Chandigarh. He emphasized that the government is committed to ending a system where education is treated as an exploitative business rather than a public service.
Expected Impact
This regulatory move marks a significant intervention into the private education sector in Punjab:
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Financial Relief for Parents: Families will gain protection from unpredictable and steep annual fee surges, allowing for better financial planning.
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Increased Oversight: Private schools will be subjected to stricter government scrutiny regarding their financial books and fee structures.
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Systemic Accountability: By formalizing these rules into state law, the government aims to establish a permanent mechanism to check the autonomy of private institutions and ensure student welfare takes precedence over profit margins.
While the bill awaits debate in the Legislative Assembly, the announcement serves as a stern message to the private schooling sector that the era of self-regulated fee hikes in Punjab is coming to a close.
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