Chandigarh
7 August 2024
DIVYA AZAD
Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament from Punjab, expressed concerns over high education costs and demanded regulation of the same in the parliament today.
Dr. Sahney stated that Education is a fundamental right, but the rising costs of education from “KG to PG” are placing an immense financial strain on families, On average, the cost of educating a student through to post-graduation in India amounts to approximately 25 to 30 lakhs. This financial burden is forcing many students to seek education abroad, particularly in fields like medicine, due to the high costs of domestic education.
Minister for State for Education Sh. Jayant Chaudhry replied that Punjab and Kerela have not implemented section 12 (1) (C) of RTE act, 2009 which mandates minimum 25% reservation in private unaided schools belonging to Economically Weaker section.
There is no regulation for controlling the fees for private colleges and deemed Universities for higher studies.
Dr. Sahney highlighted that while the Right to Education Act, 2009 mandates free and compulsory elementary education for children aged 6 to 14 years, there is a critical need to assess the implementation of this provision. He questioned how many children are currently benefiting from this free education and urged the government to address any gaps in coverage.
