The Education Minister, Punjab, Aruna Chaudhary has directed strict compliance with the provisions enshrined in ‘The Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institution Act-2016’ to put an end to the malpractices of private un-aided schools in the state and protecting the interests of student community. In a statement here today, the Minister said that as per the Act, the fee structure of schools has been regulated which would ensure that no unaided private school would be able to exploit the students and their parents by any means.The Minister further said that a regulatory authority has been formed at the divisional level under the Chairmanship of concerned Divisional Commissioner to keep unaided private schools in check. The main aim of the authority is to ensure implementation of the Act in Toto. Keeping in view the interest of parents, the office of the regulatory authority has been constituted at every Divisional Headquarter where any student or the parents can lodge their complaint in case of any wrongdoing on the part of any private school.Disclosing more, the Minister said that under the section 5 of the Regulation Act, no unaided private school would be able to increase its current fee by more than 8 percent every year.
Similarly, as per section 7 of the Act the listening of grievances of parents, students and guardians regarding levying of extra fees and funds, monitoring commercialization of education and structure of fee and funds should be in accordance with the Act. She also said that in accordance with section 11 of the Act, the parents or guardians and students can register their complaints concerning levying additional fees and funds by unaided schools with the regulatory authority which would probe a case within 15 days and take a decision in 60 days. The regulatory body has powers of civil court (Code of Civil Procedure, 1908) for the purpose of carrying out probe under section 12.Elaborating further, the Minister said that as per section 14 of the Act, in case of non-compliance with the Act the Primary schools would attract a fine of Rs. 30000, Middle schools would be fined to the tune of Rs. 50000 while a fine of Rs. 1 Lakh would be levied from the secondary schools. In the matter of an institution again violating the provisions of the Act , the fines would be doubled while the third time the affiliation of the school would be cancelled. The Minister also divulged that the Act is available on the website of Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan. She instructed the officers and all the District Education Officers to make people aware regarding the said act and convene the meetings of the management committees of the unaided private schools to apprise them of the provisions of the Act.