New Delhi: Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha informed the Assembly that the government will soon establish a fee regulatory committee to oversee the fees charged by private schools. This announcement came in response to inquiries from Assembly members during a discussion on the Education sector’s budgetary demands on Tuesday.
He further assured that the creation of integrated residential schools would not result in the closure of existing institutions, as these new schools are intended to enhance the government education system.
Addressing other significant matters, Mr. Raja Narasimha recognized the worrying trend of declining student enrollment in government schools over the past seven to eight years. He pointed out that there are currently 662 residential schools operating in rented facilities, serving nearly two lakh students in substandard conditions. While the government is committed to establishing additional schools, he underscored the necessity of improving infrastructure to encourage parents to send their children to school willingly, rather than out of obligation or fear.
He stressed that government teachers, who possess high qualifications, should take responsibility for their schools and strive to develop students into responsible citizens.
The Minister announced a substantial budget allocation of ₹11,600 crore for the establishment of Young India Residential Schools. Furthermore, an Education Commission, chaired by Akunuri Murali, has been created to implement essential reforms based on expert recommendations.
In discussing the recruitment initiative, he highlighted the introduction of new courses, partnerships with multinational companies and foreign universities, and the formation of a committee to tackle critical issues such as student dropouts, detention policies, multiple entry and exit options, and a standardized syllabus for engineering students across various universities in the State.
The Minister confirmed that all essential actions would be implemented following the committee’s report submission, reiterating the government’s dedication to improving educational quality. Additionally, he mentioned that the government has earmarked ₹22,984.69 crore for the education sector in the 2025-26 Budget.
