Private private schools must submit three-year fee plans, justify hikes with audited financial records

Private schools in the capital will have to justify any proposed fee hike on 18 prescribed parameters, including infrastructure development, transportation, safety measures and staff recruitment, and satisfy parents that the increase is warranted, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Thursday. The minister said the Delhi government has directed all private unaided schools to constitute a School Level Fee Regulation Committee (SLFRC) by July 15 under the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, warning of strict action against institutions that fail to comply. Sood said the government is committed to making quality education affordable and accessible, and asserted that education is "a noble service to society, not a commercial business".

Under the new framework, schools seeking a fee revision will have to place their proposal before the SLFRC and justify the hike on 18 parameters prescribed under the rules. "These include expenditure on infrastructure development, transportation facilities, school buildings, safety measures, lighting, staff recruitment and other institutional requirements. Schools will have to demonstrate that the proposed hike is linked to genuine improvements and is supported by financial records," the minister said.

According to a statement, every private unaided school must constitute an SLFRC comprising representatives of students' guardians, teachers and the school management. The selection of five guardian representatives and three teacher representatives will be carried out through a public, video-recorded draw of lots after giving a mandatory seven-day public notice.

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Parent-Teachers Association

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has also made it mandatory for every school to constitute a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) for each academic year, which will form the basis for selecting parent representatives to the committee. The DoE said every parent or guardian and teacher will be automatically included in the draw of lots, while a waiting list of 10 additional members will also be prepared to fill vacancies, if any. The draw will be held in presence of the principal, a teacher not participating in the selection, a PTA representative and a government-appointed observer.

"Any attempt by school managements to influence the draw or bypass the prescribed procedure would invite strict action, including monetary penalties, withdrawal of school recognition or even a government takeover of the school's management," the DoE stated in an order. Schools have also been directed to preserve the video recording of the draw for at least two years and maintain written minutes of the proceedings, signed by the observer and two witnesses from among guardians. The order further requires committees to have at least two women members and provide representation to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or socially and educationally backward classes, by selecting members from the waiting list.

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School managements have been directed to submit their proposed fee structures for the next three years to the SLFRC by July 31, it DoE order stated, adding that the proposals must be supported by audited financial statements for the previous three years certified by a chartered accountant. Unaudited or self-certified financial records will not be accepted. It also said in compliance with interim orders of the Delhi High Court, private schools will continue to charge fees at the same rate as in the 2025-26 academic session until their revised fee structures are examined and approved by the regulatory committees.

Any excess fee collected during the interim period will be subject to the final outcome of the court proceedings and will have to be refunded or adjusted accordingly. The order said the SLFRC will function for one academic year, and hold at least one meeting before August 15 to examine the proposed fee structure. Schools have also been directed to display the names of committee members on their notice boards and official websites within seven working days of the draw and submit the details to the DoE. The department has instructed regional directors and district officials to ensure strict implementation of the new provisions, saying the interests of students and guardians remain the government's priority.