Chandigarh, June 4: The Punjab Government has initiated the process of introducing a new law to regulate fee hikes in private schools across the state. Less than 24 hours after Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced major reforms to curb arbitrary fee increases, School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains directed the department to immediately begin drafting legislation aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and protection for students and parents.
According to the government, the proposed law is intended to safeguard more than 32 lakh students enrolled in nearly 7,800 private schools across Punjab from excessive and unjustified fee increases.
Annual Fee Hike to Be Capped at 5%
School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the government is committed to making education accessible and affordable for all. Under the proposed legislation, private schools will not be allowed to increase their fees by more than 5 percent annually.
The proposed framework also includes relief for parents who may have been affected by previous fee hikes. Schools that have increased their fees by more than 15 percent cumulatively over the last three years may be required to refund the excess amount collected beyond the prescribed limit.
The minister stated that the initiative has been undertaken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to curb profiteering in the education sector and ensure that educational institutions operate in the interest of students rather than commercial gains.
He emphasized that education is a public service and should not be treated as a profit-making business. He also referred to various judicial observations highlighting that while private institutions can charge reasonable fees, commercialization and profiteering in education are not acceptable.
Proposal to Be Placed Before Cabinet Soon
Harjot Singh Bains has instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive proposal for consideration by the state cabinet at the earliest. The government said the matter is being treated as a priority and that the proposed legislation will establish a transparent and accountable regulatory framework for private schools.
Officials believe the law will help bring greater clarity to fee structures and provide legal safeguards for parents against arbitrary increases.
Government Criticises Previous Fee Policy
The Punjab Government also criticised provisions introduced during the previous Congress government in 2019, alleging that they allowed private schools considerable freedom to revise fees with limited regulatory oversight.
According to the government, schools were permitted to revise their fee structures after displaying the updated details on notice boards and websites, which allegedly led to arbitrary fee hikes and increased financial pressure on parents.
The new legislation, the government says, is aimed at ending such practices and ensuring stronger accountability within the private education sector while protecting the interests of students and their families.
Once enacted, the law is expected to become a significant step toward regulating private school fees and making quality education more affordable for families across Punjab.
