Jaipur's Private School Cartels | Pre Fixing and Fees Collusion

Fee collusion and pre-fee fixing have become a major concern for parents in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Private schools in the state have been charging exorbitant fees for the past few years, with no regulation from the government. This situation is further aggravated by the lack of government interest in the matter. Delhi and Punjab have imposed a cap on private school fees, whereas there is no such regulation in Rajasthan.

One of the major issues faced by parents in Jaipur is the compulsory purchase of uniforms and books from the school. Schools charge heavily for these items, which are often sold at inflated prices. Parents are left with no choice but to buy them from the school, as there are no alternatives available. Moreover, in the name of extracurricular activities, schools charge hefty fees from parents, regardless of the minimal nature of these activities.

The private school cartelisation in Jaipur has made matters worse for parents. With no alternatives to explore, they are forced to pay the exorbitant fees charged by private schools. Even for Playgroup and kindergarten, the fees exceed Rs. 1,00,000 per year. This has made it difficult for even the upper middle class to afford the fees, let alone the poor section of society.

Government schools in Rajasthan are in a pathetic condition, with no infrastructure or facilities to speak of. Parents are left with no option but to send their children to private schools, which are beyond their financial capacity.

Interestingly, Nitish Rajput also made a video on a similar issue which can watch by clicking here

In addition to the aforementioned issues, The Philox team conducted a survey in Kumbha Marg Pratap Nagar Area, which is one of the school hubs of Jaipur. The survey revealed that no school charges less than Rs. 70,000 for playgroup or kindergarten fees, and the average fee hovers around Rs. 85,000. However, despite such exorbitant charges, parents are often made to pay more for miscellaneous charges.

For instance, schools charge a significant amount of money for outdoor activities in Jaipur, with fees ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 per trip. Parents of kindergarten kids are even charged around Rs. 10,000 per year for lab and other activity fees, which the kids at that level do not even engage in.

The schools we surveyed include VSPK International, Narayana School, British International School, Jankidevi public school and others.

In September 2005, fifty prominent private schools  in the United Kingdom were found guilty of operating a fee-fixing cartel by the Office of Fair Trading. It is high time for the government to take cognizance of the situation and impose a cap on private school fees in Rajasthan. The government should also ensure that private schools do not charge exorbitant fees for uniforms, books, and extracurricular activities. The authorities should take strict action against schools that engage in fee collusion and pre-fee fixing.

The lack of government regulation and interest in the matter has worsened the situation. It is high time for the government to take action and impose a cap on private school fees to ensure that education is accessible to all. Parents should also be proactive in this matter and demand a solution from the government.