West Bengal Govt Plans To Introduce Bill To Combat Steep Fee Hike In Private Schools

 "Middle-class parents feel the pinch in the pocket due to the steep fee hike in private schools. It affects their budget. We have discussed the matter with the CM, and as per her guidance and instruction, we have decided to introduce a Bill in this connection," West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu said.

PTI, March 12, 2025, Kolkata : The West Bengal government is planning to introduce a Bill in the assembly soon to keep a tab on the unbridled fee hike in private schools, Education Minister Bratya Basu said on Tuesday.

Replying to a query from a BJP legislator regarding the state government's plan to control the steep fee hike by the authorities of private schools, Basu said the issue was discussed with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu's Statement

"Middle-class parents feel the pinch in the pocket due to the steep fee hike in private schools. It affects their budget. We have discussed the matter with the CM, and as per her guidance and instruction, we have decided to introduce a Bill in this connection," Basu said.

He did not disclose when the Bill would be tabled.

Speaking to reporters later, the minister said the enactment of the Bill would depend on the governor.

"The implementation depends on when our Governor gives his signature on it," Basu said.

The minister, however, praised the standard of education at private schools.

"We get meritorious students from the CBSE and ICSE boards who eventually are well-established in society," he said.

"There were differences in the expenses of treating patients at private hospitals. Rich patients got a different treatment. They were charging people exorbitantly. Now, after the intervention of the CM, this has become a thing of the past," he claimed.

IANS, Kolkata, March 11, 2025 : The West Bengal government will soon bring a Bill to the state Assembly to regulate the fee structure in different private schools in the state. This was informed by state Education Minister Bratya Basu on the second day of the budget session of the Assembly, here on Tuesday.

At the same time, Basu also announced the formation of a commission to address complaints from parents regarding exorbitant fees and other grievances against school authorities.

It has been learned that the commission to be constituted for that purpose will be headed by a retired justice. The other members of the commission will include representatives from the different wings of the state education department, representatives from school education boards, and two educationists to be nominated by the state Education Minister.

The commission members will review the fee structures of different private schools operating in the state and address complaints of high free structures and high admission fees there.

On Tuesday, during the discussion on the floor of the house, the matter of skyrocketing fee structures and admission fees at different private schools in the state was raised by a BJP legislator from the Chhatna Assembly constituency in Bankura district, Satyanarayan Mukhopadhyay.

He also raised issues on the security aspects of the students at private schools in the wake of a recent incident of three students of a private school in Kolkata being injured after a glass panel fell from the school’s fourth floor.

Admitting that the state school education department is aware of such complaints especially those related to fee structure in private schools, Basu acknowledged the growing complaints about high fees in private schools and assured that the government is taking steps to regulate them through the proposed Bill and commission.