Conrwa demands regulation of private school fees, Memorandum sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

... inequality among children and deprives economically weaker students of their fundamental right to equal educational opportunities....

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Ankita Sharma
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Damaged roads and potholes across Noida have raised concerns over road safety, with a representation urging the Noida Development Authority to undertake timely repairs and regular maintenance.
Damaged roads and potholes across Noida have raised concerns over road safety, with a representation urging the Noida Development Authority to undertake timely repairs and regular maintenance.

Noida : A growing concern over rising private school fees and alleged exploitation of parents has prompted a formal appeal to Narendra Modi. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister has raised serious questions about unchecked fee hikes, annual charges and the functioning of corporate-run schools across the country.

The letter, submitted by advocate Dr. P.S. Jain, President of conrwa, urges the Central Government to intervene and frame strict regulations for private educational institutions. The memorandum highlights that quality education is gradually moving out of reach for middle and lower-income families due to excessive school fees and additional charges imposed by private schools.

Allegations of arbitrary fee collection

According to the memorandum, private schools are allegedly charging tuition fees several times higher than actual operational costs. It states that schools are collecting arbitrary amounts in the name of admission fees, annual charges and re-admission fees without clear justification.

The representation further claims that many schools compel parents to purchase books, notebooks and uniforms only from authorised vendors linked to the institutions, resulting in additional financial burden on families.

The issue of recent fee hikes by several schools in Noida has also been specifically mentioned in the letter, with a demand for immediate government scrutiny.

Questions raised over CSR funding

A major concern highlighted in the memorandum relates to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending by large industrial houses. The letter alleges that several corporations create their own trusts and use CSR funds to establish expensive corporate schools instead of benefiting economically weaker sections directly.

The memorandum claims that despite receiving land at concessional rates from the government, many such schools charge monthly fees ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh, making them inaccessible for ordinary families.

It further argues that this creates inequality among children and deprives economically weaker students of their fundamental right to equal educational opportunities.

Key demands made in the memorandum

The organisation has proposed several reforms to regulate private education in India:

  • A nationwide cap on private school fees, limiting monthly tuition charges to a maximum of ₹5,000
  • Strict monitoring of annual fee hikes and additional charges imposed by schools
  • Freedom for parents to purchase books, uniforms and study material from any market vendor
  • Greater transparency in the utilisation of CSR funds
  • Consideration of the nationalisation of private schools if institutions fail to comply with regulations
Appeal for immediate action

The memorandum states that education is a fundamental right of every child and calls upon the Central Government to take urgent steps to ensure equal and affordable access to quality education.

Copies of the memorandum have also been forwarded to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar for necessary action.

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