Parents protest against private school fees hike in Delhi

Parents protest against private schools outside DPS Dwarka; Delhi Education Minister vows to take action against private schools.

On Tuesday, several parents staged a demonstration in front of DPS Dwarka over the recent fee hike in the national capital’s schools. Ashish Sood, the Delhi Education Minister, vowed to take action against private schools that have increased their fees.

Parents protest against private schools against fee hikes.

The Delhi Education Minister said, “We are being blamed for increasing Delhi school fees… Supreme Court passed an order in 2004 Modern School case that Delhi schools are bound to take permission from the Directorate of Education before increasing their fees… But they (AAP) got this order dismissed in 2024 in the Delhi High Court… Rekha Gupta will investigate the corruption in such cases where under-the-table money was taken…A committee will be formed under the leadership of CM Rekha Gupta, and all schools will be audited and if any school fails any criterion, it will not be spared.”

AAP minister Atishi wrote to Delhi CM about the issue.

On Monday, AAP leader and LoP Atishi wrote to Delhi CM Rekha Gupta about the issue of rising school fees in private schools and urged to issue orders with immediate effect that no school collects the enhanced fee from any parent/guardian until accounts of the schools are audited. She urged the government to ensure that “all accounts of schools seeking a fee hike be audited by CAG empanelled auditors in a time-bound manner. Any approval for a fee hike of even 1-2% should only be granted to schools whose legitimate expenses cannot be met without such an increase.”

The letter by Atishi read, “Education is not a commercial activity, and profiteering cannot be allowed in private schools. Over the last 10 years, the previous government, led by Arvind Kejriwal Ji and thereafter me, followed this principle not just in letter but also in spirit. Unfortunately, within the first two months of your government, it appears that private schools are being given a license to fleece parents as they wish.” She added, “Parents of children studying in private schools in Delhi are protesting outside the schools. They are not allowed to go to school. After the BJP government came to power in Delhi, private schools have started looting fees.”