New session, old baggage: Most pvt schools fail to submit fee hike info

Time of India

16-05-2025

Bhopal: In blatant disregard to notions of transparency, almost two-thirds of the schools in MP have yet again failed to submit information about fee structures and hikes to the govt, despite being given an extended deadline.
The March 15 deadline has come and gone and currently, only 10,181 private schools out of the total 34,714 schools across the state have complied with the mandatory reporting requirements.
Parent organizations are calling for action against the schools for non-compliance. The schools have yet to submit their financial records and proposed fee adjustments for the academic year.
The state education department earlier issued clear directives to all private schools to provide comprehensive documentation, including their annual accounts, proposed fee structures, and justification for any increases.
This requirement stems from regulations aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing arbitrary fee hikes that burden parents and students.
Officials also noted that whether they were schools are in major cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Jabalpur or in smaller districts, they have both failed to comply with the directives.
'Not Enough Scrutiny & Too Many Unjustified Fee Hikes Burden Students'
Parents' associations have expressed worry about schools potentially implementing unjustified fee increases without ample scrutiny.
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"The govt needs to take strict action against schools that fail to submit their details even after the extended deadline. As per the rules, schools should submit their details by Jan 1 every year," said parent association general secretary, Prabodh Pandya.
Parents have warned that schools failing to comply may face protests from them. "Govt should take possible action, including penalties. District-level committees should be formed to review the submitted documents and assess the legitimacy of proposed fee increases," added Pandya.
Schools Give Vague Excuses On Helpline: Parents
The education department established a helpline for parents to report concerns about unreasonable fee hikes, but that has also turned into a mere formality. Several schools have cited increased operational costs, infrastructure improvements, and salary revisions as reasons for seeking fee adjustments. "Schools must demonstrate that additional charges are necessary for maintaining educational standards and implementing quality improvements," said an official without quoting his name.
As per the rules, schools must maintain detailed records of their income and expenditure, which should be available for inspection by authorised officials.
Govt Should Maintain Accountability In Private Education Sector: Assn
The last deadline extension aimed to give schools additional time to prepare accurate documentation while ensuring that the fee regulation process remains transparent and fair. The education department should create a comprehensive database of school fee structures to monitor trends and prevent excessive increases, said the parents' association.