PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN NO LONGER ACT ARBITRARILY

PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN NO LONGER ACT ARBITRARILY

7-APRIL-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------The Bhojpur district administration has adopted a strict stance in response to complaints regarding arbitrary fee collection and the compulsion imposed by private schools to purchase uniforms and books exclusively from a single designated shop. Acting on the directives of the District Magistrate, all private schools have been ordered to make complete details regarding fees, books, and uniforms public by April 15, 2026.

Furthermore, a stern warning has been issued that action—potentially extending to the cancellation of recognition—will be taken against schools found to be in violation of these regulations. An order issued by the Bhojpur Collectorate explicitly states that the tendency to operate education as a commercial enterprise is a matter of grave concern and is highly objectionable; therefore, it is imperative that this practice be curbed.

In accordance with the District Magistrate's instructions, it is now mandatory for all private school administrators to publish the list of prescribed books for each class, along with details regarding uniforms, on their respective school websites or at a prominent public location within the school premises before April 15, 2026, to ensure that parents have access to this information.

The order further stipulates that school management must ensure that no unnecessary changes are made to the school uniform, thereby sparing parents and students from facing undue financial burden. The administration has clarified that parents are free to purchase uniforms, books, and other supplies from any shop of their choice, based on their own convenience. Imposing a compulsion to purchase these items exclusively from the school itself or from a specific designated shop will be deemed a violation of the regulations.

The district administration has designated the concerned Block Education Officers as Nodal Officers and has directed them to conduct inspections regarding the arrangements for fees, uniforms, books, and other supplies across all private schools. During these inspections, information regarding the school's name, U-DISE code, number of enrolled students, fee structure, recognition status, and any complaints received from parents is to be collected.

If any school is found to be engaging in the collection of illegal fees or in the financial exploitation of parents/students, the concerned school shall be required to immediately refund the illegally collected charges. Additionally, a show-cause notice will be issued to the school, and—should the situation warrant it—the process for the suspension or cancellation of its recognition will be initiated. Furthermore, under the Bihar Private Schools (Fee Regulation) Bill, 2019, legal action will be initiated against the school principal, management, and Board of Directors. The District Administration has stated that compliance with this order will be monitored at both the sub-divisional and district levels. Reports regarding complaints received and irregularities detected during inspections will be submitted on a regular basis.