Chandigarh: Two private school bodies of Punjab have opposed the state govt’s ordinance capping the annual fee increase at 5% and mandating refunds of fee collected beyond the prescribed limit over the past three years, warning they would move the Punjab and Haryana high court if their concerns were not addressed.
The National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) and the Recognised Affiliated Schools Association (RASA) said the decision, if implemented in its present form, could adversely affect the financial sustainability of private schools and, consequently, the overall school-education ecosystem in Punjab.
NISA president Kulbhushan Sharma urged Punjab govt to initiate a dialogue with private school associations, parent representatives, educationists and financial experts to evolve a balanced, transparent and scientifically designed fee regulation policy that protects the interests of all stakeholders while preserving educational excellence. According to Sharma, a balanced education policy is the need of the hour and quality education cannot be ensured through fee control alone. “While safeguarding the interests of parents is important, it is equally essential to ensure the financial sustainability of schools, dignified salaries for teachers, and quality education for students,” he said.RASA chairman Harpal Singh said the retrospective refund provision would severely impact the functioning of private schools.
