Delhi govt announces audit of private school fee hikes

NEW DELHI: Education minister Ashish Sood on Monday said investigation committees headed by the subdivisional magistrates had been constituted to audit all private schools in the city, in response to growing complaints about arbitrary fee hikes.
He also confirmed that within the next 10 days, the data on fee increases across all private schools would be made available on the directorate of education (DoE) website to promote transparency.
On the same day, leader of the opposition Atishi wrote to chief minister Rekha Gupta, calling the fee hike issue a "full-blown crisis". Questioning whether BJP would side with the "education mafia or the parents of Delhi", she demanded immediate action.
Sood explained that over the past decade, of the 1,677 private schools, only 75 were audited each year. "Delhi govt is committed to curbing arbitrary fee hikes by private schools. We will not tolerate the commercialisation of education."
Sood accused the previous govt of being complicit in corruption through private institutions. "Why was no action taken despite significant fee hikes in reputed Delhi schools over the last 10 years?"
Sood further challenged former education minister Manish Sisodia to provide concrete evidence of corruption. "If he truly believes wrongdoing occurred, he should file a police complaint, rather than blaming our govt," he added.
Sood said that for the first time, an investigation committee, led by the district magistrate of Kapashera, was formed to look into the fee hikes at DPS Dwarka. "If the school is found guilty, strict action will be taken," he said, highlighting the school's repeated fee increases from 2020 to 2025, ranging from 7% to 20% annually.
Citing the 2004 Delhi High Court judgment in the Modern School case, Sood reiterated that private schools couldn't raise fees without DoE's approval.
Sood also pointed to several schools allegedly violating regulations. "Srijan School raised its fees by 35% during the previous govt's tenure and further increased it by 36% in the academic year 2024-25." He alleged that Ahlcon International School misused Rs 15 crore without consent, yet was allowed a 15% fee hike in 2022-23 and a further 13% increase in 2024-25.
"Angel Public School was issued a notice for financial irregularities worth Rs 42 lakh, but still hiked its fees by 14% in 2022-23. Rukmini Devi Public School increased its fees by 11% while Lancer's Convent School raised its fee by 34% in 2024-25. Salwan Public School was involved in a scam worth Rs 1.68 crore and yet hiked its fees by 23.84% in 2023-24 and another 14.68% in 2024-25," he said.
The education department has launched an official email, [email protected], under the supervision of the deputy director of education, where parents can report grievances. They may also complain at DoE's offices.
Challenging CM, Atishi said, "If BJP govt is not hand in glove with private schools, impose an immediate stay on fee hikes. Get all fee-hiking private schools audited by CAG-empanelled auditors. Fees should only be allowed to rise if schools aren't making profits."
Atishi alleged, "Ever since BJP came to power in Delhi, private schools have hiked fees indiscriminately and begun looting parents. Parents are protesting, but BJP govt remains inert." She claimed, "For 10 years, Arvind Kejriwal govt curbed arbitrary hikes by mandating audits before any fee increase & even got illegally collected fees refunded."