Rules governing school fees in Gurgaon Faridabad and other Haryana schools

Rules governing Annual Fee Structure and frequency

• Transparency in fee structure: The rules mentions that the annual fees cant be combined with any other heads of fees, ensuring transparency in the fee structure. For instance, school has to clearly specific charges like Lab fees etc. outside the head of annual fees. This regulation aims to provide clarity to parents regarding the specific components of the fees they are being charged, preventing any confusion or possibility of being fooled in the name of school fees.
• When can school change its fees? According to the amended rules, schools are only permitted to charge annual fees in the 1st, 6th, 9th, and 11th years of the student in the school.
• Frequency of fee payment: This regulation allows for better financial planning to parents by spreading out the fees payment over the year, not just at the beginning of the year. Hence, schools have to specify frequency like once in a quarter for fee payment.
• Form 6th for Salary Data: Schools are required to use Form 6th for the submission of salary data, ensuring that the financial aspects of the school are managed transparently and efficiently. This way parents know if the increased fees they are being charged is actually going into welfare of staff as well.
• Fee Logic Alignment: Fee structure should be aligned with the school’s financial operation so that it promotes fair and logical fee management.

Rules governing Fee Hike and Other Regulations

• Maximum Fee Hike: The rules specify that the maximum fee hike a school can impose is 5% over the Consumer Price Index (CPI), safeguarding parents from unreasonable fee increases.
• Limit on fee hike: This regulation aims to protect parents from sudden and unreasonable fee hikes, helping parents plan their ward’s fees in long run.
• Can schools change uniform? The rules clearly mentions that no recognized school should change its uniform before 5 years of usage, providing stability and predictability for parents with respect to money they spend on uniform.
• Freedom in Stationery Purchase: Schools are prohibited from compelling parents to purchase stationery from specific vendors, granting parents the freedom to choose affordable option for their child’s stationary. Schools can however employ a specific book for teaching during the classes.

Rules on Fees for New Students

• Flexibility in Fee Structure: The amended rules allow schools to determine the fee structure for new students, providing flexibility to accommodate unplanned situations. It also ensures that the school can sustainably manage its operations.

It cant be said that these rules fully help parents with all the issues that they face for their ward’s education but this does help them be more aware of their rights. This also helps them plan their financials in a stable manner. However, the maximum allowed fee hike is still a big number considering unrelenting inflation figures (CPI) over the years.