NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar education department has issued a fresh order to all private schools in the city, directing them to strictly comply with annual fee hike rules for the upcoming academic year.The move comes following complaints from parents about arbitrary fee hikes and compulsory purchases of school stationery in some schools. Officials told TOI that several grievances were received from parents alleging sudden increases in annual fees and schools compelling them to buy books, uniforms and stationery from designated vendors.The order clearly says that “no school can compel parents” to purchase books, uniforms, shoes, socks or stationery from any particular shop. As per the order, schools can revise annual fees for existing students only on the basis of the average increase in teachers’ salaries of the previous year, and the hike cannot exceed 5% of the fee charged, in line with the Consumer Price Index.District inspector of schools Rajesh Kumar said, “The direction aims to ensure transparency in fee structures and protect parents from unregulated fee demands ahead of the new academic session. In case any parent has any complaint, they can reach out to the district school education department or the district fee regulatory committee (DFRC). The matter will be reviewed at the earliest.”Schools have also been directed to provide parents — at the time of admission — the complete fee structure up to Class XII for that academic year, which will serve as the base for calculating future fee revisions. Schools have also been instructed not to change uniforms within five consecutive academic years unless approved by DFRC with proper justification.“Schools must submit a detailed fee structure to the appropriate authority before the start of the academic session and publish it on their website and notice board at least 60 days before admissions begin,” read the official order by the district education department.It said that the fee notice must also specify whether payments will be collected monthly, quarterly or half-yearly, and schools cannot insist on annual lump-sum payments. The rules come under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Self-Financed Independent Schools (Fee Regulation) Act, 2018.The order clarified that schools can charge only defined fee components such as registration fee, admission fee, examination fee and a single annual recurring fee. “Optional charges can be collected only for services such as transport, boarding, mess, educational visits or other voluntary activities. Security or caution money must be refundable, capped at 50% of annual fees and returned within 30 days of issuing a transfer certificate,” it read.Schools have also been warned against charging capitation fees or collecting any amount beyond the notified fee during the academic session without prior approval. Receipts must be issued for every payment collected from students.The order says that complaints from parents can be taken up by the district fee regulatory committee. Violations may lead to penalties, including a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh and refund of excess fees for the first offence, Rs 5 lakh for the second, and possible withdrawal of recognition in case of repeated violations.
