Deputy CLP leader Aftab Ahmed flags ‘exploitation’ by private schools over high fees in Haryana
Ahmed says he would write to Chief Minister Nayab Saini, demanding strict action against those schools that are financially exploiting parents
Taking cognisance of the blatant disregard for education department regulations by private schools in Haryana, Deputy Congress Legislative Party leader and Nuh MLA, Aftab Ahmed, stated that he has been receiving complaints from parents alleging that the majority of private schools are exploiting them under the guise of exorbitant tuition fees, annual admission fees, charges for books, transportation fees, and other levies.
It is pertinent to note that admissions for the new academic session are currently underway in private schools, and the primary grievance emerging from parents is that they are being financially defrauded in various ways.
Ahmed remarked that following the reopening of schools on April 1, the cycle of exploitation by private schools in Haryana has resumed. He criticised the education department and the administration for remaining completely passive and inactive.
He pointed out that the department has not even conducted inspections in the schools. Furthermore, books are being sold right within the school campuses, and in exchange, parents are not even being provided with receipts for their book purchases.
It is worth recalling that in early March, the Director of Education (Panchkula) had issued a directive to all district education officers, instructing them to ensure that private schools strictly adhere to regulations by prescribing only NCERT textbooks. The directive mandated that appropriate action be taken against—and the names forwarded to the Directorate of Education of—any school operators who act contrary to these instructions by coercing parents into purchasing books from private publishers, or by compelling them to buy books, notebooks, stationery, uniforms, and other supplies exclusively from within the school premises or from specific shops designated by the school management.
Ahmed asserted that under the BJP government, education has transformed into a massive commercial enterprise, leaving the common man crushed under its burden.
He noted that exorbitant fees are being levied even for classes as elementary as Nursery; moreover, schools are selling textbooks themselves at inflated prices, and fees for school transportation facilities are also being charged at excessively high rates.
He contrasted this with the previous Congress-led UPA government, which had introduced the Right to Education Act to ensure education for all; he argued that the current BJP government has completely undermined the Right to Education and the broader education policy, rendering the pursuit of education an unaffordable luxury for the poor under this administration.
The Deputy CLP leader stated that, on one hand, there is a severe shortage of teachers in government schools—where the quality of education is continuously deteriorating—while on the other, parents are being subjected to rampant financial exploitation in private schools.
The MLA asserted that providing education to all is a fundamental responsibility of the government, and the BJP is failing to fulfill this obligation.
Ahmed announced that he would write to Chief Minister Nayab Saini regarding this matter, demanding strict action against those schools that are financially exploiting parents. He further demanded the formation of a high-level committee at the state level to immediately put an end to the arbitrary profiteering by private schools.
