Parents’ forum demands law to regulate HP private schools

The Parents’ Forum of Himachal Pradesh has urged the state government to introduce a law and establish a regulatory commission in the upcoming Assembly session to address several problems faced by parents. These include arbitrary fee hikes by private schools, high prices for uniforms and books, the admission process, curriculum concerns and the collection of tuition fees alongside annual charges. Additionally, parents have voiced frustrations over the exploitation under the guise of events and functions organised by schools.

Vijender Mehra, coordinator of the Forum, stated the lack of a proper law has allowed school managements to exploit parents by imposing excessive fees for tuition, books and uniforms. “While the general public’s income has remained stagnant over the past five years, private school fees have doubled,” Mehra noted.

He criticised the private school sector, calling it a commission-driven business and argued the state government’s silence on these issues suggests tacit approval of these exploitative practices.

Mehra also recalled during the previous BJP regime, steps were initially taken to create a law in response to the parents’ movement, but the draft was shelved under pressure from private school managements. Since the Congress party came to power, however, the government has remained silent on regulating private schools for the past two years.

The Forum has warned if the government fails to introduce the law during the upcoming budget session, it would launch a mass movement to push for action.