A Group of Ministers in Telangana made recommendations on regulating private school fees, but their efforts have been unsuccessful. The state government’s lack of commitment has allowed schools to continue profiteering. According to sources from the State School Education Department, the recommendations include the formation of a school-level fee committee (SLFC) with representatives from parents, teachers, principal, and management. This committee should review and approve audited reports and proposed fees three months before the start of each academic year. The committee also stipulates that the annual fee increase should not exceed 10% of the previous year’s collection. Additionally, fees should be collected digitally and include mandatory fees for admission and tuition, as well as optional fees for boarding, dining, transport, extracurricular activities, and school trips.
The recommendations also propose the creation of a State-Level Fee Regulatory Committee (SLFRC) led by a retired high court judge, with members from the field of education and the commissioner and director of school education. If a school-level committee cannot reach an agreement on fees, the issue will be escalated to the SLFRC for resolution.
