Chandigarh: In a major relief for parents across Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that private schools in the state will no longer be allowed to increase fees by more than five per cent annually.
The Punjab government said it will soon bring an ordinance to give legal backing to the decision. The ordinance will later be introduced as a bill in the upcoming session of the Punjab Assembly and enacted into law.
The move comes amid growing complaints from parents over repeated fee hikes by private educational institutions. Many families have been struggling to cope with rising education costs, prompting the government to intervene and regulate fee increases.
Announcing the decision, Mann said the five per cent cap would not be limited to tuition fees alone but would also cover other mandatory charges collected by schools. He warned that institutions would not be allowed to bypass the rules by imposing additional fees under different heads.
In another significant decision, the government has directed that private schools which have increased fees by more than 15 per cent during the last three years will be required to refund the excess amount collected from parents. Detailed guidelines regarding the refund process and implementation mechanism are expected to be issued shortly.
The Chief Minister said the government was committed to protecting the interests of students and parents and ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the education sector.
Mann also referred to the recent death of a student in Amritsar, allegedly linked to harassment at a school, saying the incident had raised serious concerns about the functioning of private educational institutions. Following the tragedy, the government initiated a review of school fee structures and administrative practices.
Emphasising that education is a basic necessity and not a commercial enterprise, the Chief Minister said the government would continue taking measures to prevent exploitation of parents and ensure that quality education remains accessible and affordable.
