In a decision that is likely to resonate with middle-class families and parents across Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, the Bhagwant Mann-led government has moved to tighten regulation of private school fees after the Governor approved a key ordinance aimed at preventing arbitrary fee hikes.
The approval of the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Education Institutions (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, marks one of the state’s most significant interventions in the private education sector in recent years. The measure is designed to bring greater transparency to school fee structures while providing legal safeguards against unchecked increases in tuition and other charges.
The development comes at a time when the cost of education has become a major concern for families across India. Successive complaints from parents about frequent fee revisions, additional charges and the rising cost of private schooling have kept the issue in the public spotlight. The latest ordinance is being projected by the Punjab government as an attempt to place affordability and accountability at the centre of education policy.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said education should never become a commercial enterprise and maintained that every child deserves access to affordable schooling irrespective of economic background. He said the government has a responsibility to protect ordinary citizens from unnecessary financial burdens and ensure that education remains accessible.
Under the amended legal framework, private unaided schools will not be permitted to increase annual tuition fees and related charges by more than five per cent during an academic year without obtaining prior approval from the competent authority. The provision is intended to curb arbitrary fee revisions while introducing greater oversight into the functioning of private educational institutions.
Officials believe the ordinance will provide parents with stronger legal protection against sudden and excessive fee increases, while encouraging greater transparency in financial practices adopted by schools.
The move also reflects the Aam Aadmi Party government’s continuing emphasis on education as one of its flagship governance priorities. Since assuming office, the government has repeatedly highlighted reforms in government schools alongside efforts to regulate private educational institutions.
Political observers say decisions that directly affect household expenses often carry significant electoral value. With Assembly elections less than a year away, measures aimed at reducing financial pressure on families could strengthen the government’s appeal among urban middle-class voters, parents and salaried households.
Private school managements are expected to study the new provisions carefully, while education experts say the effectiveness of the ordinance will ultimately depend on its implementation, enforcement mechanisms and the functioning of the regulatory authorities responsible for approving fee revisions.
The ordinance now provides Punjab with a stronger legal framework to oversee private school fee structures, signalling the government’s intent to balance institutional autonomy with the interests of students and parents. As implementation begins, both schools and families will closely watch how the new rules reshape the state’s education landscape in the months ahead.
