Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab government has announced a major crackdown on private schools, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declaring that schools will no longer be allowed to increase fees arbitrarily or force parents to buy books and uniforms from specific shops.
Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh on Wednesday, Mann said the government is bringing a strict new law under which private schools will be permitted to increase fees by a maximum of 5 percent annually. The proposed legislation is expected to be introduced through an ordinance within the next few days and later passed during the upcoming Assembly session.
The Chief Minister said schools that have increased fees by more than 15 percent over the last three years may be required to refund the excess amount collected from parents. The new rules will apply to all categories of fees and cover all schools operating in Punjab, including national and international institutions.
Mann said complaints related to fee hikes received by District Education Officer (DEO) offices will be thoroughly investigated, and strict action will be taken against schools found violating regulations.
The government also plans to prohibit schools from compelling parents to purchase books, uniforms, or other educational materials from designated vendors. Schools will be required to provide complete information regarding such requirements in advance, ensuring parents have the freedom to choose where they make purchases.
According to the Chief Minister, the government will conduct annual audits of schools to ensure compliance with the new regulations. He said a comprehensive legal framework is being prepared with input from experts from various fields.
The Punjab government will also amend the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Act, 2026 through the proposed ordinance.
Criticizing the previous administration led by Amarinder Singh, Mann alleged that amendments introduced in 2019 gave private schools excessive freedom to raise fees. He claimed that earlier regulations allowed fee increases of up to 8 percent, but the changes enabled schools to increase fees without adequate restrictions. The government now intends to replace those provisions with the proposed 5 percent cap.
Referring to the recent death of a Class 12 student in Amritsar, Mann described the incident as tragic and said it highlighted the need for stronger regulation of private schools. He alleged that the student had faced pressure over fee payments and vowed that such practices would not be tolerated.
The Chief Minister said parents and students had contacted him over the past 24 hours with complaints about schools allegedly harassing families over pending dues, including threats to withhold roll numbers, degrees, or other academic documents. He added that any school found engaging in such practices would face strict action from the government.
