Delhi private schools can't use inflation alone to increase fees, must justify hikes
Delhi has told private unaided schools to justify any fee hike before school-level committees using 18 prescribed parameters and audited records. The rules bring parents into the approval process and bar schools from citing inflation alone for higher fees.
Private schools in Delhi will no longer be able to justify fee hikes by merely pointing to inflation or rising costs. Instead, they will have to explain exactly why an increase is needed, backed by audited financial records and assessed against 18 prescribed parameters before parents and regulators.
Announcing the new framework on Thursday, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said every private unaided school must 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.
The move is aimed at bringing greater transparency to school fee revisions and giving parents a direct role in scrutinising proposals.
SCHOOLS MUST EXPLAIN WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT
Any school seeking a fee revision will have to place its proposal before the SLFRC and justify the increase on 18 parameters laid down by the Directorate of Education (DoE).
These include expenditure on:
- Infrastructure development
- Transportation facilities
- Maintenance of school buildings
- Safety and security measures
- Lighting and power availability
- Staff recruitment and salaries
- Library maintenance
- Laboratory upkeep and equipment
- Sports and extracurricular facilities
- Water supply and sanitation
- Administrative expenses and institutional requirements
- Depreciation reserve and maintenance funds
- Special education and remedial classes
- Staff welfare and professional development
- Mandatory health and hygiene measures
- Technological upgrades and smart classrooms
- Student-teacher ratio and quality of teaching
- Any other institutional obligation mandated by the DoE
Schools will also have to demonstrate that the proposed fee hike is linked to genuine improvements in facilities or educational standards and support their claims with audited financial statements for the previous three years certified by a chartered accountant. The government has made it clear that unaudited or self-certified records will not be accepted.
"Education is a noble service to society, not a commercial business," Sood said, adding that the government is committed to ensuring quality education remains affordable and accessible.
PARENTS TO HAVE A SAY IN FEE HIKES
Under the new rules, every private unaided school must constitute an SLFRC comprising representatives of the school management, parents and teachers.
Five parent representatives and three teacher representatives will be selected through a public, video-recorded draw of lots after a mandatory seven-day public notice. Every school will also have to constitute a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) each academic year, which will form the basis for selecting parent representatives.
The draw must be conducted in the presence of the principal, a teacher not participating in the selection, a PTA representative and a government-appointed observer.
Schools have also been directed to ensure at least two women members on the committee and provide representation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and socially and educationally backward classes wherever applicable.
SCHOOLS MUST SUBMIT FEE PROPOSALS BY JULY 31
The Directorate of Education has directed schools to submit their proposed fee structures for the next three years to the SLFRC by July 31, along with audited financial statements for the previous three years.
The committee must meet before August 15 to examine the proposal and decide whether the fee revision is justified.
Schools have also been asked to publish 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.
STRICT PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE RULES
The government has warned that any attempt to manipulate the draw of lots or bypass the prescribed procedure could invite strict action, including financial penalties, withdrawal of school recognition or even a government takeover of the school's management.
Schools must preserve video recordings of the selection process for at least two years and maintain signed written records of the proceedings.
Meanwhile, in compliance with interim directions of the Delhi High Court, private schools will continue charging fees at the same rate as in the 2025-26 academic session until revised fee structures are examined and approved. Any excess fee collected during this period will have to be refunded or adjusted, subject to the final outcome of the pending court proceedings.
Private schools in Delhi will no longer be able to justify fee hikes by merely pointing to inflation or rising costs. Instead, they will have to explain exactly why an increase is needed, backed by audited financial records and assessed against 18 prescribed parameters before parents and regulators.
Announcing the new framework on Thursday, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said every private unaided school must 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.
The move is aimed at bringing greater transparency to school fee revisions and giving parents a direct role in scrutinising proposals.
SCHOOLS MUST EXPLAIN WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT
Any school seeking a fee revision will have to place its proposal before the SLFRC and justify the increase on 18 parameters laid down by the Directorate of Education (DoE).
These include expenditure on:
- Infrastructure development
- Transportation facilities
- Maintenance of school buildings
- Safety and security measures
- Lighting and power availability
- Staff recruitment and salaries
- Library maintenance
- Laboratory upkeep and equipment
- Sports and extracurricular facilities
- Water supply and sanitation
- Administrative expenses and institutional requirements
- Depreciation reserve and maintenance funds
- Special education and remedial classes
- Staff welfare and professional development
- Mandatory health and hygiene measures
- Technological upgrades and smart classrooms
- Student-teacher ratio and quality of teaching
- Any other institutional obligation mandated by the DoE
Schools will also have to demonstrate that the proposed fee hike is linked to genuine improvements in facilities or educational standards and support their claims with audited financial statements for the previous three years certified by a chartered accountant. The government has made it clear that unaudited or self-certified records will not be accepted.
"Education is a noble service to society, not a commercial business," Sood said, adding that the government is committed to ensuring quality education remains affordable and accessible.
PARENTS TO HAVE A SAY IN FEE HIKES
Under the new rules, every private unaided school must constitute an SLFRC comprising representatives of the school management, parents and teachers.
Five parent representatives and three teacher representatives will be selected through a public, video-recorded draw of lots after a mandatory seven-day public notice. Every school will also have to constitute a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) each academic year, which will form the basis for selecting parent representatives.
The draw must be conducted in the presence of the principal, a teacher not participating in the selection, a PTA representative and a government-appointed observer.
Schools have also been directed to ensure at least two women members on the committee and provide representation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and socially and educationally backward classes wherever applicable.
SCHOOLS MUST SUBMIT FEE PROPOSALS BY JULY 31
The Directorate of Education has directed schools to submit their proposed fee structures for the next three years to the SLFRC by July 31, along with audited financial statements for the previous three years.
The committee must meet before August 15 to examine the proposal and decide whether the fee revision is justified.
Schools have also been asked to publish 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.
STRICT PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE RULES
The government has warned that any attempt to manipulate the draw of lots or bypass the prescribed procedure could invite strict action, including financial penalties, withdrawal of school recognition or even a government takeover of the school's management.
Schools must preserve video recordings of the selection process for at least two years and maintain signed written records of the proceedings.
Meanwhile, in compliance with interim directions of the Delhi High Court, private schools will continue charging fees at the same rate as in the 2025-26 academic session until revised fee structures are examined and approved. Any excess fee collected during this period will have to be refunded or adjusted, subject to the final outcome of the pending court proceedings.
