New Delhi, 9 April (IANS). The huge fee increase by private schools recently in Delhi has broken the back of middle class parents. The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged a deep connivance between the ruling BJP and private schools in this case.
Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Atishi, has written a letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta demanding to investigate the entire matter seriously and to stop the increased fees with immediate effect. The letter said that in the last few months, many private schools in Delhi suddenly increased their fees manifold, due to which parents are badly upset.
He claimed that strict control was put on the fees hike in the 10 -year tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party government and the education mafia was tightened, but since the formation of the new government in February 2025, private schools are getting open exemption.
Atishi said that the name of Bharat Arora, chairman of the private schools “Action Committee for Private Schools”, is coming out behind this unbridled fee hike. Arora has not only fought legal battles to increase fees for years, but is a member of the Delhi BJP executive and is also leading the BJP Teacher Cell. Her social media posts confirm that she had actively participated in the campaign of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was contesting from Shalimar Bagh.
The former Chief Minister of Delhi alleged that a meeting was held between Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood and representatives of private schools on 6 April last, in which it was allegedly assured that the fees would be allowed to increase the fees after the protest stopped. It was said that by bringing a notification, the government will approve the 10 percent fee increase every year without an audit.
In this entire case, the Aam Aadmi Party has placed four major demands before Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. In addition to curbing increased fees with immediate effect, there has also been a demand to return the amount to the parents who have already paid the increased fees.
Atishi has written that before any fee increase, audit of the respective schools should be made mandatory and a fair inquiry into the impact of Bharat Arora in the Ministry of Education and the Directorate of Education. The Aam Aadmi Party has warned that if the government remains silent in this matter, the party will take to the streets and protest against the parents. The party says that this issue is not only about fees, but the future of millions of children and the burden on the pockets of parents.
-IANS
PKT/Acade
