Telangana private schools raise fees sharply; no regulatory body in place yet

Private school fees in Telangana have seen a sharp increase this year, with hikes ranging from 60% to 70%, as the state continues to lack a formal regulatory mechanism.

The draft bill for the Telangana Private Schools and Junior Colleges Fee Regulation and Monitoring Commission, introduced by the Telangana Education Commission (TEC), is still awaiting implementation.

The Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA) has criticized the government for its inaction.

“Year after year, schools hike fees, and the government remains silent,” said R Murali, a member of HSPA. “We had hoped the TEC would implement a regulatory framework, but all we have is a draft; there is no implementation.”

Parents say the increases are being seen across all categories of schools, from those with limited infrastructure to high-end international institutions.

The largest hikes have been reported in the lower grades, particularly from LKG to Class 4.

“Last year, we paid ₹80,000 for pre-primary, but this year it’s between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹2 lakh,” said Suresh Reddy, who recently admitted his son to a private school in Secunderabad. “When asked, the management cited digital upgrades and campus expansion.”

A LocalCircles survey found that school fees in Hyderabad have surged by 50% to 80% over the past three years.

School managements and representatives of the Telangana Recognized School Managements Association (TRSMA) justified the increase.

“Fee revisions are necessary to cover infrastructure upgrades, salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff, and other operational costs,” they said.

TEC member Prof Vishweshwar Rao said that a comprehensive report has been submitted to the state government.

“It is currently under discussion and will be presented in the upcoming Assembly session to be enacted as law. In the meantime, we are receiving numerous complaints about excessive fee collection and are engaging with school managements to understand and, where necessary, take action,” he said.