CHANDIGARH: In a step towards regulating school fees, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that no private school in the state will hike fees during the current semester of academic session 2022-23.
In a video message, Mann said the management of private schools will not be able to increase fees even by a single rupee during the current semester. He said that a comprehensive policy in this regard would be formulated in consultation with the parents of students, school management, principals and other stakeholders and detailed information would be shared in the coming days.
In a related decision, Mann said that school managements will not force the parents to buy books or uniforms from any particular shop. He said the parents should be at liberty to have the option to buy both books and uniforms from any shop in their town or city .
The CM mentioned that another policy on purchase of books and uniforms would be unveiled soon.
Mann said education had become so expensive that it is now beyond the reach of a common man.
Welcoming the move, AAP spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang said parents used to face difficulties as there was no check on private schools’ decision to hike fees. “With this decision, lakhs of parents of Punjab will get relief during admissions for the upcoming session and their financial burden won’t be increased,” he said.
