Private schools in Delhi will no longer be able to arbitrarily increase fees; a major change in the education system. What is the whole story?
The Delhi government has implemented a new law to curb arbitrary fee hikes by private schools. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has issued the notification, bringing more than 1700 private schools under its purview.
This is a relief for millions of parents in Delhi. Now, private schools in the capital will not be able to increase fees arbitrarily. The Delhi government has implemented the Delhi Education Bill (Fee Determination and Regulation) Act 2025 to control fee increases by private schools. The notification for this law was issued by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in the Delhi budget.
Why was the new law necessary?
For a long time, parents in Delhi were troubled by the arbitrary fee increases by private schools. Many schools increased fees every year without any valid reason. This was increasing the financial burden on middle and lower-income families. Considering this problem, the government has enacted this new law.
15 percent parental consent required for complaints
Under the new law, the consent of at least 15 percent of parents will be required to file a complaint against a fee increase. This means that if parents feel a school's fee increase is unjustified, they can formally file a complaint together. The government says this will prevent frivolous complaints and allow focus on genuine cases.
More than 1700 private schools will be covered
More than 1700 private schools in Delhi are covered under this act. This means that almost all large and small private schools will now have to follow the fee regulations and will not be able to make decisions arbitrarily.
Three-tier system for fee monitoring
The government has created a three-tier system for monitoring fees:
At the first level, there will be a Fee Regulation Committee at the school level.
At the third and final level, there will be a Review Committee, which can modify decisions if needed. Statement by Education Minister Ashish Sood
Delhi Government's Education Minister Ashish Sood has called this law a historic step. He said that the Education Department will now begin implementing all the rules and procedures outlined in the law. This includes the scrutiny, approval, reporting, and monitoring of school fee proposals.
Education is a right, not a business
Ashish Sood stated that education is not a business but a right of every child. The government's goal is to ensure that every child in Delhi receives quality education with transparency, honesty, and fairness.
Government's appeal to parents
The government has appealed to parents and guardians to support this new law and cooperate in maintaining transparency. This will strengthen public trust in the education system. The implementation of this law will provide relief to parents from recurring problems related to fees. Now they will be able to voice their concerns without fear, and their complaints will be heard.
Schools will be held accountable
Under the new law, schools will have to clearly disclose their fee structure, expenses, and financial needs. Action can be taken against schools for increasing fees without proper justification. This will ensure accountability on the part of schools.