Parents Protest Against Fee Hike at DPS Dwarka in Delhi
New Delhi, April 8 – A large number of parents gathered outside Delhi Public School (DPS), Dwarka, on Tuesday, protesting against the recent hike in private school fees across the national capital. The demonstration highlights growing public anger over what many view as unchecked profiteering in the education sector.
Education Minister Promises Strict Action
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood addressed the issue, promising tough action against private schools found violating fee regulations. He cited the 2004 Supreme Court ruling in the Modern School case, which mandates schools in Delhi to seek prior approval from the Directorate of Education before increasing fees.
According to Sood, “The AAP government got this order dismissed in 2024 by the Delhi High Court, weakening oversight. Now, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership, a new committee will be formed to audit all private schools. Any school failing to meet required criteria will face strict penalties.”
He also announced that Rekha Gupta will lead a corruption probe into allegations of under-the-table deals related to fee hikes.
AAP’s Atishi Calls for Immediate Relief to Parents
On Monday, AAP Leader and Leader of Opposition Atishi wrote a letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, urging her to immediately halt fee collection until a comprehensive audit of school accounts is completed.
Atishi demanded that any school seeking a fee increase must first undergo a CAG-empaneled audit, ensuring that even minor hikes are justified by legitimate financial need. “Education is not a commercial activity, and profiteering cannot be allowed in private schools,” she emphasized.
Political Accusations and Parental Struggles
Atishi accused the BJP-led Delhi government of giving private institutions a free hand to “loot” parents. “In just two months of this new government, fee structures have surged without oversight. Earlier, under the AAP government, we ensured that schools could not arbitrarily raise fees,” she said.
She also mentioned that many parents are unable to send their children to school due to the fee burden. “Parents are standing outside schools with protest signs because they cannot afford to send their children in,” she added.
Demand for Transparent Audits and Regulation
The controversy has reignited debate over the need for stricter controls on private school fees. Both AAP and BJP leaders now seem committed to auditing financial practices in these institutions. However, parents say they are looking for immediate relief, not just long-term policy measures.
For now, all eyes are on the Delhi government’s next move—particularly whether it will enforce a fee rollback and implement the proposed audit mechanism.
