Punjab Govt Tightens its Grip on Private Schools

June 25, 2026

When Bhagwant Mann’s Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in Punjab four and a half years ago, its cornerstones were the medical model and the education model. While the medical model pledged to open Mohalla Clinics to provide affordable treatment to the common man, the education model pledged to elevate government schools to such a level compared to expensive private schools that even the son of a poor man would feel free to attend these free government schools and achieve results comparable to those of expensive private schools.

This was undoubtedly good news for poor children. But what about the perception that expensive private school education is considered far superior to government school education? Even ordinary parents want to educate their children in these schools. Private, so-called English-medium schools took advantage of this and, in the name of their modern facilities, demanded ever-increasing fees from parents each year. The general perception is that private schools are superior because they are expensive, while government schools are inferior because they charge nominal fees.

To change this approach, the Bhagwant Mann government, along with its cabinet, has decided that no private school will increase fees by more than 5% per year. The cabinet has approved an ordinance to this effect. The ordinance means the law has come into effect immediately.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that any school charging more than this amount will face a fine of up to five lakh rupees. Since the rule has been implemented, the records of private schools in Punjab have come under scrutiny for the past three years. According to the law, fees should only be increased by 15% during this period.

There are currently 7,800 private schools in Punjab. All these schools should be investigated. If any school has increased fees beyond this limit, it will be required to refund them. While Punjab may consider this an achievement, it should be remembered that similar fee control measures have been taken in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, and West Bengal.

The law has been passed; now it remains to be seen how faithfully it is implemented in schools in Punjab. If implemented, it will certainly increase access to private schools for ordinary children.