As the new academic session kicks off, parents in the State capital are facing a stressful period of financial uncertainty. Despite strict Government mandates, dozens of prominent private schools have failed to upload their fee structures to the state portal, depriving families of the chance to review costs in advance. This lack of transparency has sparked a wave of concern among guardians who argue that without timely information, they are unable to assess their financial options or prepare their budgets for the year ahead. For most families, the start of the session involves significant expenditures on books and uniforms. Parents are now demanding that schools disclose their fee structures immediately, allowing them to gauge whether the costs are manageable or if they need to look for alternative schooling options. Many feel that being informed in advance is a basic right, allowing them to strengthen their pockets or look for schools that better fit their financial strength. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a concerned father of two shared the common plight: “We are being forced to buy expensive books and uniforms first, and only then do we find out the school has hiked the fees.

 

If the portal had been updated in March, I could have compared other schools and decided if I could actually afford to keep my children here or if I needed to look for more affordable options before the session started.” Another parent expressed frustration over the lack of planning time, stating, “It’s not just about the hike; it’s about being mentally prepared. When schools hide the fee structure, it feels like they are trapping us. Most of the schools disclose there fee structure in July which is very late as the session commences in April only. We can’t shift our children once the classes begin, so we are stuck paying whatever they demand. The government must ensure schools upload this data before the session begins so we can check our ‘pocket strength’ against their requirements well in advance.” The official response to this defiance is expected shortly, though it faces a brief administrative delay. When contacted by ‘The Hitavada’, District Education Officer (DEO) N K Ahirwar stated that he is currently away on leave. However, he confirmed that formal notices will be dispatched to all defaulting schools immediately upon his return to duty next week. The Private Schools Association has admitted to the lapse, citing administrative laziness and a heavy workload. Association President Ajit Singh noted that the pre-occupation with year-end examinations, result preparation, and copy checking likely caused the delay. He also mentioned that while the deadline is effectively pushed toward April 30, the schools should have prioritised the upload process given that the session is already active.