Hyderabad schools hike fees sharply amid Govt delay on regulation bill

Schools across Hyderabad are ramping up fees for the upcoming academic year, exploiting the Telangana government's inaction on a key regulation bill. Even after these steep payments, many institutions force parents to buy books, uniforms, and supplies exclusively from school premises or approved vendors—at inflated prices.

A Begumpet school, for instance, now charges Rs 3.2 lakh annually for PP1, where children attend just 3-4 hours a day. Parents are protesting loudly, warning that unchecked hikes will soon price quality education out of reach for middle-class families. Yet, with no binding regulations, schools ignore these pleas.

The exploitation doesn't stop there. Second-standard book kits from mandated vendors cost around Rs 10,000, while school uniforms sell at exorbitant rates on-site.

School managements often justify increases by citing teacher salaries and infrastructure costs. But teachers tell a different story: their pay remains disproportionately low compared to fees, with annual raises barely keeping pace with inflation.

The Telangana Education Commission (TEC) has drafted a bill to rein this in. It proposes categorizing schools by infrastructure and location, capping fees per category, and limiting hikes to Consumer Price Index-linked ranges. Increases would require parental justification and valid reasons.

Commission members urge the cabinet to approve and enact the law swiftly, warning of escalating inequities without it.