‘Battle against children’s future’: Protest in Delhi against private school fee regulation bill today

In opposition to Delhi government’s bill to regulate fee hike by private schools, a protest has been announced in the national capital. A message circulated on social media regarding the protest alleges that the bill gives unchecked power to the private schools. The BJP-led government tabled the bill in the monsoon assembly on August 4.

Today at 12 PM, protestors are gathering at Master Chandgiram Akhara (near Civil Lines/Vidhan Sabha) to protest against the Delhi private school fee bill, which threatens to silence parental voices and grants unchecked power to private schools. Calling it more than just a protest and rather a battle for their children’s future, the demonstrators argued that if they don’t stand up today, they may lose their right to question tomorrow. It is a now-or-never moment to assert their role as key stakeholders in Delhi’s education system.

The previous Delhi government, led by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also protested the bill in the assembly, terming it a “sham” designed to favour private school owners. Former Delhi chief minister Atishi asserted that the bill does not have any provision for the withdrawal of hiked fee and ironically proposes a fee fixation committee headed by the school management itself.

Delhi private school fee regulation bill

The opposition leaders urged the Rekha Gupta government to get the bill referred to an expert committee for consultation and urged it to freeze the school fee charged in 2024-25 until the finalisation of the legislation.

Under the Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill 2025, each private school will be required to form a fee regulation panel by July 15 of every academic year. The bill protects students from harassment by schools including actions such as striking of names, withholding of results, denial of access to classes, among others.