New Delhi: In a strong show of support for concerned parents, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday took swift action against alleged arbitrary school fee hikes, directing an on-the-spot probe into the matter. The move comes after a group of parents alleged that their children were expelled from Queen Mary School in Model Town for protesting against steep and unjustified increases in tuition fees.
Addressing the issue, Chief Minister Gupta made it clear that her administration would not allow any form of “injustice” or “exploitation” when it comes to children’s education.
“Any form of injustice, exploitation and irregularity will be tackled with a zero-tolerance policy. Our pledge is clear – every child should get justice, respect and quality education”, said the Chief Minister in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
In a video shared on her social media, the Chief Minister was seen speaking directly with education officials, instructing them to initiate immediate action against the school, including the cancellation of its registration if found guilty of violating norms.
Gupta’s prompt action is being seen as a firm message to schools allegedly threatening students or their families over fees. She also warned educational institutions that such exploitative practices will have consequences, stating that her government is committed to protecting students and ensuring access to affordable and quality education.
The controversy took a political turn as well, with AAP leader and former Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj accusing the BJP government of being in league with private school associations.
“Bharat Arora, president of the Association of Unaided Private Schools, is an office-bearer of the BJP and actively campaigned for the Chief Minister ahead of the Assembly polls. And as soon as the BJP formed the government, news of school fee hikes started coming in”, Bharadwaj alleged.
The Delhi government’s strong intervention has been widely noted, especially as parents continue to raise concerns over rising educational expenses in unaided private schools.
The investigation into Queen Mary School is expected to set a precedent, with officials indicating that other schools may also be scrutinized if similar complaints surface.
