AAP proposes changes to school fee hike Bill

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi on Thursday said party legislators have submitted multiple notices for amendments to the School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025 based on suggestions from parents’ groups.

The Bill, which was tabled by Education Minister Ashish Sood on Monday, has not been passed yet.

AAP alleged that the BJP government “did not consult all stakeholders”. “Parents kept asking for a copy of the Bill to offer their suggestions, but it was kept hidden for four months… it has been made for the benefit of private schools,” Ms. Atishi said at a press conference.

The Bill proposes the formation of an 11-member school-level committee to approve fee hikes in each school. If 15% of the school’s parents’ body objects to the hike, it can approach a district-level committee.

‘Mandatory audits’

AAP’s proposed amendments include a mandatory audit in each school with the report to be sent to parents.

In a post on X, Ms. Atishi said, “Our demand is that the fees of 2024-25 should be charged by the school until the audit is done.”

The Opposition party also suggested that 10 parents of each school be elected to the 11-member school-level committee and the threshold of objecting parents be reduced from 15% of the parents’ body to 15 parents in total.

Ms. Atishi said AAP has also proposed that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee of the Assembly, comprising members of the ruling party and AAP, and that it take into consideration the suggestionts of all stakeholders.