The Yogi Adityanath government brought the Self-Financed Independent Schools Bill on Tuesday to regulate excessive fee hike of the state's private schools.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Provinding a major relief to parents, the Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday came up with the Self-Financed Independent Schools (Regulation of Fees) Bill 2018 to put a curb on schools charging exorbitant fees.
The draft of the bill was approved on Tuesday. To implement the provisions of the proposed Bill from the current academic session, the government has decided to promulgate an Ordinance since no session of the State Legislature is in progress. After Cabinet's nod, it will be sent to Governor Ram Naik for promulgating it in an Ordinance form.
The UP cabinet decided that the process of charging school fees will be transparent and any school will be able to charge fees only through four means. These will include prospectus fees, admission fees, examination fees and joint annual fees.
UP’s Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma called a press conference and declared that a new system will be implemented to regulate school fees within the state.
Private schools’ arbitrariness will be curbed
Dr. Sharma further said that optional fee, bus fee, excursion fees and charges for educational camps can only be taken from students if they participate in such activities. Further, schools will have to provide receipt for all sorts of fees. Even the schools functioning under the CBSE and ICSE board will have to follow these rules.
During the press conference, it was also declared that the decisions undertaken by the cabinet regarding school fees will be applicable in the year 2018-19.
School fees can be paid in four instalments within a year
The government has also declared that students needn’t pay the whole school fees together from now on. The annual fees can now be paid on half-yearly or quarterly basis also. Further, once these rules are implemented, schools will not be able to force parents to buy copies or bags from any one shop. Even the school dress cannot be changed before the completion of five years.
Teachers salaries set to increase
The cabinet also decided that the school teachers’ salary should increase in proportion to the school fee hike. Further, it declared that the hike shouldn’t be more than 5-7 percent in any aspect. Business activities, such as functioning of guest houses, shops, etc. will also be controlled if they are being run inside schools. It’s also important to provide information regarding the school’s earnings and utilise it for the school’s development, to reduce students’ fees and to provide teachers' salaries. The income will have to be shown in the school’s account.
Violation of norms may lead to cancellation of school’s accreditation
The Deputy CM also announced in the press conference that the state government will set up fee regulation committees at the commissioner level in all zones across state.
If any school violates the norms of fee regulations, it will be punished with Rs 1 lakh for the first time and Rs 5 lakh for the second violation. If a school continues to violate the rules, its accreditation will be cancelled.
