Parents Launch ‘No Fee Regulation, No Vote’ Campaign

Hyderabad: Parents’ groups have urged political parties to prioritise school fee regulation, launching a ‘No School Fee Regulation, No Vote’ campaign at a round table conference organised by the Hyderabad School Parents Association in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Speakers, including HSPA president Venkat Sai, said Telangana continues to lack a comprehensive fee regulatory framework more than a decade after statehood. Participants said high fees charged by private schools are placing financial pressure on families and called for education to be treated as a social responsibility.

The meeting highlighted concerns over the effectiveness of the current fee reimbursement government order and sought stronger implementation of the Right to Education Act. Participants urged the government to issue a fresh order to regulate fees and said the campaign would be expanded to other districts.

A parent associated with a private school chain alleged that his child faced humiliation after he questioned fee hikes. He said, “The pressure to pay school fees is extremely high. If we fail to pay on time, the school repeatedly calls us and, in some cases, even withholds report cards until the fees are cleared.”

Another participant from a mothers’ association said rising education costs were becoming a burden and called for immediate passage of a fee regulation measure. “Educational expenses are becoming a major burden on families in view of the steep hike in school fees,” the member said.

The issue of Hyderabad Public School was also raised, with a speaker alleging lack of transparency in alumni funds and fee-related concerns. It was further alleged that there have been attempts by government authorities to take control of society assets and land, and that the institution’s management is influenced by political leaders.

The story was written by Naveed Hassan