Ann Mary school limits fee hike to 10 per cent following administration’s action

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun

Ann Mary school in Dehradun has rolled back its previously implemented 30 per cent fee hike and submitted an undertaking to increase fees by only 10 per cent for the academic year 2025–26. The school has also reportedly agreed to adjust the excess amount already collected from students in the upcoming month’s fees.

This decision comes after the Dehradun district administration took strict action in response to complaints from parents and in line with directives issued by the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to prevent exploitation in the education sector, as per Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal. He said that the administration has issued clear instructions that private schools across the district must follow the government mandate allowing a maximum of 10 per cent fee increase only once in three years. To enforce compliance, schools have been directed to submit their proposed fee structures for each academic session to the chief education officer’s office. Implementation will only be permitted after official approval, he said.

Bansal said that this move is part of a broader crackdown on commercial practices in the education sector. He said that all private schools have been asked to ensure that lists of textbooks and school uniforms are publicly available through their websites. The schools must allow parents to purchase these items from open markets and ensure that uniforms do not carry exclusive branding that limits availability.

He informed that in addition to Ann Mary School, other institutions including Summer Valley School and Saint Joseph School have received instructions to adhere to the same regulations. Summer Valley School has been asked to limit its fee increase for class IX to six per cent this year and display the list of textbooks and uniform details online. Saint Joseph School has been instructed not to exceed a 10 per cent hike over a three-year interval, he said. Bansal has warned that non-compliance may lead to the cancellation of licenses and closure of schools. All private schools in the district are currently under scrutiny to ensure full compliance with the fee regulations and related directives, he added.