Delhi CM Declares New Education Act a Triumph for Parents

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday declared the recently notified Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fee Determination and Regulation) Act, 2025 as a "major victory" for parents, assuring much-needed respite from indiscriminate fee increases by private schools.

The law, which was notified on August 14—nearly a week after it was enacted by the Assembly and assented to by the Lieutenant Governor—will apply to all 1,677 unaided private schools in the Capital.

"This landmark law checks the commercialization of education and makes the process of determining fees transparent, accountable, and just," Gupta tweeted in a post on X. "Education cannot be a commercial transaction, but a right and an instrument for public good."

At the heart of the legislation are far-reaching changes to control school fees. It brings in a three-level grievance redressal system and gives parents a voice over fee structures. Schools' malpractice could invite penalties up to ₹10 lakh.

The measure follows decades of protests by parent associations against uncertain fee hikes and transparency shortcomings. To embed control, the legislation establishes committees at school, district, and revision levels. The bodies, which consist of parents, teachers, and management representatives, will vet and authorize all the proposed fee changes.

Talking to the media after Independence Day functions at Chhatrasal Stadium, Gupta underlined, "This Act finally makes the system participatory and transparent. No longer will parents be helplessly pushed around by unaffordable hikes."

The legislation forbids schools from raising fees above the authorised level, making the private education sector more accountable. For thousands of parents in Delhi fighting cost inflation in school education, the notification is a rare and welcome policy victory.