Steps initiated by Assam govt to regulate fee structure of private schools

June 17: In an exemplary move, the much awaited move by the Assam government in regulating the fee structure of the private schools in the state has been initiated. Off and on, guardians whose wards study in private schools allege about exorbitant fees levied by such institutions. But till now no such concrete initiative was undertaken by the state government to stop this menace. It’s now that after almost a year’s wait that the state government has taken the initial step to regulate the fee structure of private schools in the state.

Based on the Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act, a five-member regulatory committee headed by a chairperson would be formed for this purpose. These five persons ought to be either a retired district judge/senior civil servant/senior police officer, chartered accountant, civil engineer, a representative from a non-government educational institution and an academician. The term of all the members would be three years. The Act passed a year ago envisaged the formation of the committee.

As per the Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act, the maximum fee limit a non-government school can charge shall have to be determined at the beginning of every academic session. Before determining the maximum fees which can be charged by any school, the committee shall consider various factors, like the location of the school, investment incurred to set it up, infrastructure, expenditure on administration and maintenance, the strength of students, qualification of teaching staff, expenditure incurred on students, etc.

Any instance of excess fees collected by any private school other than that which is determined, than the committee can take suo moto action against that school. Further, the committee will also have the power to entertain complaints regarding the collection of excess fees by any private institution and determine punitive measures.