Patna: The Bihar government has prohibited private schools from charging re-enrollment fees and other restricted levies from students, warning that institutions violating the directive could face cancellation of recognition and financial penalties.
The order was issued by the Education Department under the signature of Additional Chief Secretary (Education) B Rajender.
Officials said the move was aimed at protecting parents from financial exploitation by private educational institutions.
‘Schools Are Not Commercial Enterprises’
In its directive, the Education Department stated that private schools should not function as commercial enterprises and must instead operate on the principle of “no profit, no loss” as a service to society.
The order cited provisions under:
- the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
- the Bihar Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011
- the Bihar Private School (Fee Regulation) Act, 2019
- affiliation guidelines of Central Board of Secondary Education, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations and Bihar School Examination Board
along with judicial rulings related to school fee regulation.
Schools Directed To Publicly Display Fee Structure
Under the new rules, private schools must publish a detailed fee structure on:
- school notice boards
- official websites
The department said schools were generally expected not to increase fees in a manner that imposed additional financial pressure on parents.
If a fee hike becomes unavoidable, officials said it must be implemented strictly according to prescribed legal procedures and statutory limits.
Ban On Forced Purchases Of Books And Uniforms
The Education Department also prohibited schools from compelling parents to purchase:
- textbooks
- study materials
- uniforms
- other supplies
from specific shops or vendors.
Schools have been directed to display complete lists of prescribed books and study materials on their websites and notice boards, while parents remain free to purchase them from any vendor of their choice.
The order further stated that:
- schools must not frequently change uniforms or textbooks
- any such changes would require approval from the Parent-Teacher Association
Officials added that students and parents should not face undue pressure to purchase supplementary materials outside the prescribed curriculum.
Students Cannot Be Denied Classes Or Exams Over Fee Dues
The directive also clarified that no student should be:
- barred from attending classes
- prevented from appearing in examinations
- denied results
solely due to pending fee payments unless procedures prescribed under prevailing regulations had been fully followed.
The Education Department said the measures were intended to ensure uninterrupted education for students while bringing greater transparency and accountability to private school administration across Bihar.
