Chandigarh: In a major relief for lakhs of parents across Punjab, the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday approved a landmark ordinance to amend the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Act. Under the new provisions, no unaided private school in the state will be allowed to increase annual fees and funds by more than five per cent.
Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the ordinance would now be sent to the Governor for final approval.
Cheema said strict action would be taken against any private school found violating the new rules once the ordinance comes into force. He also announced that schools which had imposed unjustified fee hikes during the past three years would be required to refund the excess amount collected from parents.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said schools seeking to raise fees beyond the prescribed five per cent limit in future would not be allowed to do so unilaterally. Instead, they would have to present their case before a high-level committee to be constituted by the Punjab Government.
According to Bains, the schools will be required to submit supporting documents and justify the need for any additional fee increase. The committee will also conduct a comprehensive financial audit before taking a final decision.
The Education Minister further revealed that records of schools suspected of indulging in arbitrary fee hikes are already being seized as part of the government’s efforts to curb exploitation of parents and ensure transparency in the education sector.
The move is being viewed as one of the most significant regulatory interventions by the Punjab Government aimed at controlling private school fees and protecting the interests of students and their families.
