Fee hike not allowed, make uniforms & books available in all shops: Punjab CM to Private Schools

The CM barred fee hikes in private schools. The minister said that school cannot increase their fees by even a rupee.

Punjab CM bars fee hike in private schools

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday, March 30 has ordered all private schools not to increase their fee for the semester. The CM also order schools not to specify any particular shops for the purchase of uniforms and textbooks in the coming academic session.

Say no to fee hike

In a video statement, Mann barred fee hikes in private schools. The minister said that school cannot increase their fees by even a rupee. Taking the first step towards making school education affordable in Punjab, the minister said, “The government will frame a detailed school fee policy after discussion with stakeholders, including parents of schoolchildren and principals of private schools.”

Books and uniforms to be available in all shops 

The chief minister also talked about making school uniforms and books available in all the shops. Mann directed private schools not to specify any particular shop for buying books and uniforms. “Parents will have the choice to buy books and uniforms from any shop they want. We will announce a detailed policy soon,” he said.

The minister also said that the two decisions would come into effect immediately.

This is a major step taken by the Punjab government toward affordable education in the state. The decision will bring relief to thousands of children and their parents in the state. Past records state that due to unaffordability, many parents are often forced to either change schools because of high fees, or withdraw their wards from schools and force the children to work in the unorganised sector.

Mann, in a video message, said that education was like a third eye, which widened the perspective of an individual. “But it saddens me that education is out of reach of the common man. People want to give their children a basic education, but the high cost is an impediment,” he said.

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