Private schools in Punjab are challenging a government order capping annual fee increases at five percent. The order also requires schools to refund overcharged fees from the past three years. School groups stated this policy is unfeasible and may lead to legal action.
Schools Warn of Financial Strain
Leaders from two major private school associations spoke out Tuesday. Kulbhushan Sharma of the National Independent School Alliance and Harpal Singh of the Recognised Affiliated Schools Association in Punjab called for a pause. They requested dialogue with government officials, parents, and education experts.
Previously, schools could raise fees by up to eight percent annually. This eight percent cap informed school budgets for infrastructure, teacher salaries, and technology. The groups argue forcing refunds will disrupt daily operations. These plans were made under the old fee structure.
Impact of COVID-19 and Rising Costs
The associations highlighted that many schools are still repaying COVID-19 pandemic loans. Income dropped significantly during lockdowns. Operating costs have since increased. Electricity, transport, and technology expenses are higher.
Staff salaries are the largest school expenditure. A five percent fee cap leaves little room for salary adjustments. This could negatively affect education quality. Nearly 3.06 million students attend private schools in Punjab. About 1.46 lakh teachers work in this sector.
Government School Capacity Questioned
School groups questioned the government's capacity. They asked where over 3.06 million students would go if private schools struggled. They also asked about finding 1.5 lakh new teachers.
They cited existing issues in government schools. These include teacher shortages, single-teacher institutions, vacant positions, and poor internet connectivity. The school bodies urged the Punjab government to negotiate solutions. They expressed a desire to avoid court proceedings.
