Model fee regulatory framework for unaided private schools

•  The apex body for child rights, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has prepared guidelines for regulating admission fee levied by private unaided schools.
• The Commission has also recommended setting up a district-level body which will consult parents and teachers while determining school fee on a case-by-case basis.
• NCPCR took suo motu cognisance of the problem of exorbitant school fees after it received several complaints on the matter.
• Commission has studied regulations framed by various States over a period of six months and has included best practices in its model framework.
• The guidelines recommend setting up a District Fee Regulatory Committee (DFRC) in each district. The body will be headed by the Collector or District Magistrate.

Important guidelines:

• As per the procedure laid down by the NCPCR, every school will have to submit its fee proposal online by October 31 for the next academic session, following which an algorithm will calculate the minimum and maximum fee a school can charge.
• This would be then analysed by the DFRC, which will consult representatives from the school as well as its Parent-Teacher Association before arriving at the final decision. The fee finalised thus will be applicable for three academic years.
• If a school fails to submit its proposal, it may face a ban on new admissions for the entire academic session or withdrawal of its formal recognition. If a school is not satisfied with the DFRC decision, it can appeal to the State Appellate Authority whose decision will be final.

About NCPCR:

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) emphasizes the principle of universality and inviolability of child rights and recognizes the tone of urgency in all the child related policies of the country.
• For the Commission, protection of all children in the 0 to 18 years age group is of equal importance. Thus, policies define priority actions for the most vulnerable children. This includes focus on regions that are backward or on communities or children under certain circumstances, and so on

By: Vishal