Private School Fee Hikes in 2025 – What Parents Are Demanding In recent weeks, many prominent private schools in Delhi have come under fire from parents for allegedly raising fees without proper approvals, sparking protests and renewed concerns about the accessibility and affordability of private education in the city.
Private School Fee Hikes in 2025
An exorbitant hike in fee by some leading private schools in the city has become a matter of grave concern for parents as they have to shell out over Rs 1 lakh annually for the education of a single child and submit a non-refundable nursery admission. According to education watchers, at the heart of the issue is a broader crisis: the rising cost of private education in India.
A recent survey by LocalCircles, a citizen engagement platform, found that 44 per cent of parents across India reported a 50 to 80 per cent fee hike in the past three years, with 8 per cent saying it exceeded 80 per cent. This has raised concerns about who can access these so-called elite educational spaces. mission fee ranging from Rs 35,000 to Rs 55,000.
What Parents Are Demanding In recent weeks,
There have been longstanding complaints by parents and guardians against “irregular and exorbitant” fee hikes by private unaided schools in the national capital.
According to education watchers, at the heart of the issue is a broader crisis: the rising cost of private education in India. A recent survey by LocalCircles, a citizen engagement platform, found that 44 per cent of parents across India reported a 50 to 80 per cent fee hike in the past three years, with 8 per cent saying it exceeded 80 per cent. This has raised concerns about who can access these so-called elite educational spaces.
- Public School System Improvements
- Home Schooling Opportunities
- Online Learning Platforms
- Bursaries and Scholarships
- Community-Based Educational Programs
- Partnerships with International School
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Several parents also alleged that students were mentally harassed if fee payments were delayed: “Children are humiliated during school assemblies, and it affects them psychologically.” How long will this go on?
Lack of transparency
When questioned, schools often cite operational deficits and delayed government reimbursements for students from economically weaker sections. But Gupta alleges a lack of transparency. “When I was the PTA [parent teacher association] general secretary (2017–21), I asked them for a letter about EWS reimbursements to hold the government accountable. They refused. That tells me they’re hiding something.” Under the Right to Education Act, schools on public land allotted at concessional rates must provide free education to EWS children. While Maharaja Agrasen Model School has not denied students access to classes or exams, Gupta pointed to a subtler form of harassment. “They have split classrooms into air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned sections.
Harassment of Students over unpaid fees
According to Aprajita Gautam, president of the Delhi Parents Association, only 335 of the 1,677 recognised private schools in Delhi are legally required to seek DoE approval for fee hikes. “That means 80 per cent can raise fees without oversight,” she said. Under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973, private unaided schools on government-allocated land must get approval for any hike. While 355 such schools fall under this rule, 1677 operate outside it. In May 2024, the Delhi High Court stayed the DoE directive requiring such schools to seek prior approval.
Parents also complained about the increasing “commercialisation” of education schools. They alleged that school management forces them to buy books, stationery, uniforms, and other materials directly from the school at inflated prices, sometimes double the market rate.
“If we can buy the same items at half the price in the market, why are we forced to pay double at school?” asked another parent. Even among the 20 per cent of schools requiring prior clearance, many obtained a stay from the High Court and went ahead with hikes in 2023 and 2024. “This has opened the floodgates,” said Gautam. She also questioned the justification schools give.
Conclusion
In this article we discussed the private school fee hikes in 2025 – what parents are demanding. In recent weeks, many prominent private schools in Delhi have come under fire from parents for allegedly raising fees. According to education watchers, at the heart of the issue is a broader crisis: the rising cost of private education in India. This has raised concerns about who can access these so-called elite educational spaces.
Mark Delyn focuses on education, learning methods, and academic trends. Her work supports students, educators, and lifelong learners with practical and timely insights.
