Delhi Schools Ordered to Limit Fee Collection to One Month at a Time

New Fee Collection Guidelines for Delhi Schools

The Directorate of Education (DoE) in Delhi has mandated that schools can only collect fees for a single month at a time. Institutions that fail to comply with this regulation may face strict penalties. The directive emphasizes that schools must not require parents or guardians to pay fees exceeding one calendar month in a single installment.

Furthermore, the notification from the education department clarifies that no school can compel or pressure any parent or guardian to pay more than one month's fees in one go.

However, parents or guardians who choose to pay fees for more than one month voluntarily and without any coercion or inducement may be permitted to do so. The order also states that schools cannot make advance fee payments a prerequisite for admission, continued enrollment, or access to any student services. All schools are required to prominently display this order on their notice boards and upload it to their official websites within seven working days.

Citing the provisions of the Delhi School Education Act of 1973, the Directorate warned that failure to comply could lead to severe actions, including the cancellation of recognition or takeover of school management. The education department stated that this measure aims to ensure equal access to education and protect the interests of parents, particularly those from low and middle-income backgrounds.