Assam Council of Ministers approved “Assam Non-Government Education Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Rules 2020”. It seeks to regulate the fees structure of the private educational institutes in the State of Assam.

Highlights:

i.The state Government will constitute a Fee Regulatory Committee for determination of fees for any standard or course of study in Private educational institutions.

Persons in the Committee:

i.The committee shall consist of five persons – 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 for a period of three years.

Key Points:

i.The fee to be payable by the students of private schools will be determined by the committee after a proper examination of the fees structure and scrutiny of relevant documents and books of accounts.

ii.The committee shall hear complaints or initiate suo moto hearing with regard to collection of excess fee by private educational institutions.

iii.Before setting the maximum fee the committee shall take into account the location of the school, investment incurred to set up the school, infrastructure, expenditure on administration and maintenance, strength of students, qualification of teaching staff and expenditure incurred on students.

Penalty:

i.The Bill has a provision to impose penalty on erring institutions upto five lakh rupees and also cancellation/withdrawal of the registration of the institution.