New Delhi, June 5: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has welcomed the Punjab Government’s decision to regulate private school fee hikes, describing it as a landmark step towards protecting parents from arbitrary increases in education costs.
In a video message, Kejriwal said Punjab has become the first state in the country to take decisive action against what he described as unchecked profiteering by some private educational institutions. He praised Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s decision to introduce a law that will limit annual fee hikes by private schools.
Private Schools to Face Fee Hike Restrictions
According to Kejriwal, the proposed legislation will ensure that private schools cannot increase their overall fees by more than 5 percent in a year. The cap will apply to all components of school fees, including tuition fees, library fees, development charges and other related expenses.
He said the move is aimed at providing relief to lakhs of families struggling with rising education costs and ensuring greater accountability in the private education sector.
Highlighting a key feature of the proposed law, Kejriwal stated that schools which have increased fees beyond the prescribed limit during the last three years would be required to refund the excess amount collected from parents.
He said this provision would offer significant financial relief to families and help address long-standing concerns regarding arbitrary fee hikes.
Punjab Following Delhi’s Education Model
Kejriwal noted that a similar approach had earlier been implemented in Delhi, where private schools were required to roll back unjustified fee increases and return excess collections to parents.
He said Punjab is now adopting a similar model while continuing efforts to strengthen government schools and improve educational standards across the state.
The AAP leader added that every parent wants quality education for their children and governments have a responsibility to ensure that education remains accessible and affordable.
Calls for Similar Laws Across India
Arvind Kejriwal said the issue of excessive fee hikes is not limited to Punjab and affects families in many parts of the country. He suggested that other states should consider adopting similar measures to regulate private school fees and protect parents from unnecessary financial burdens.
According to him, Punjab’s initiative can serve as an example for the rest of the country by promoting transparency, accountability and fairness in the education sector.
He said the proposed legislation reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of students and parents while ensuring that education remains focused on learning rather than commercial gain.
