Haryana

• 10 Dec 2021

School Fee Hike in Haryana Linked to Consumer Price Index

Why in News

• Recently, the state government has amended the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003 by linking the annual fee hike with the consumer price index to check the excessive fees charged by private schools in Haryana.

Key Points

• In this, a provision has also been made for a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh on private schools violating the new fee norms and withdrawal of recognition of private schools.
• As per the Haryana School Education (Amendment) Rules, 2021 notified by the state government, a recognized (private/unaided) school can increase the fee for its existing students every year, which is the monthly salary of the previous year's teaching staff. equal to the average per capita percentage increase in wages, but the fee increase shall not exceed the latest available annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index plus five percent.
• Apart from this, private schools will neither increase fees nor indulge in profiteering during the academic year. However, private schools will be free to fix the fee for new students seeking fresh admission in any class in a particular academic year.
• There are about 8900 private schools in Haryana. The education department had received a large number of complaints from parents against the unprecedented fee hike by private schools especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the Haryana School Education (Amendment) Rules, 2021 were notified to regulate and monitor the fee structure in private schools.