A number of agitated parents staged a protest outside the Delhi Directorate of Education office on Wednesday, demanding a rollback of what they called “irregular and exorbitant” fee hikes by private unaided schools across the Capital. The parents urged the Delhi Government to immediately intervene and bring relief to families facing financial distress

Holding placards that read “Loot machana bandh karo” and “Schools ki manmani band karo, hamari fees kam karo”, the protesters alleged that several schools had hiked fees without any prior notice or approval from the authorities. They also raised concerns about coercive tactics being used by school managements, including denial of admit cards for board exams and threats of expulsion for non-payment.

Ajit Singh, one of the protesting parents, said, “My daughter studies in Class IX. Her school increased the fee without any clearance or prior notice. When we tried to speak with the principal, we were either turned away or kept waiting endlessly. Finally, we were told — if you can’t pay, take your child out.”

Another parent, Nitin Gupta, highlighted the psychological impact on children. “Students whose fees are delayed are humiliated in front of peers during assemblies. It’s mental harassment and it’s affecting their self-esteem,” he said.

The parents also accused schools of running a business, pointing out steep hikes in the past two years — in some cases up to 45 per cent. “Last year, our school raised the fee by 30 per cent. With two children studying in the same school, it’s becoming impossible to manage,” said another parent.

Some parents alleged that schools were forcing them to buy uniforms, books and stationery at inflated rates directly from school-designated vendors. “Items available in the market for Rs 100 are being sold at double the price. It’s nothing but exploitation,” said a protester.

One of the protesters claimed that a school justified its fee hike by citing operational losses over the past four to five years. “If they’ve been running at a loss for years, how are they still expanding and starting evening classes?” questioned another parent, hinting at the growing commercialisation of education. with PTI inputs