Telangana proposes Bill to regulate private school fees

The Telangana Education Commission has proposed a new Bill to regulate school and junior college fees in the state. This effort comes seven months after the Commission was formed. The Bill aims to create a Telangana Private School Fee Regulatory and Monitoring Commission to oversee private education in the region. One of the main goals is to provide relief to parents who often face significant yearly fee hikes. The Bill suggests that fee increases should occur twice a year, tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). In recent years, school fees have risen much faster than the CPI, which has averaged around 5.5% annually. To enhance transparency, the proposed Bill requires schools to have a website where they must display their fee structure. The website should include information on school recognition, teacher qualifications, and class sizes. This is expected to help parents understand the fees they are being charged. The Bill also prohibits schools from selling uniforms, textbooks, or other supplies to students. It aims to prevent additional fees labeled as donations or maintenance costs. However, it allows some flexibility based on the school's location and operational costs, including land and staff salaries. Overall, the Bill is designed to make education more affordable and transparent for families in Telangana.