Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to questions regarding a UNESCO report on private schools, the rise in tuition fees, and efforts to improve education quality and infrastructure in government schools. It references the UDISE system for data collection, the RTE Act for ensuring free and compulsory education, and the Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI schemes for supporting education initiatives. The response highlights the roles of State Governments/UT Administrations in regulating private school fees.
Key Points / Main Content:
Data on School Education:
* The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) system records data on school education indicators from all States and Union Territories.
* From 2019-20 to 2023-24, 24,403 private unaided schools were established out of a total of 33,869.
* Government schools constitute more than 69% of the total schools in the country.
Regulation of Private Schools:
* The opening, closing, and rationalization of schools, including fee regulation for private schools, fall under the purview of respective State Governments and UT Administrations.
* The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, ensures free and compulsory elementary education for children aged 6-14 in a neighborhood school.
* Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act mandates at least 25% reservation for children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in private unaided schools at the entry level.
* Section 13 of the RTE Act prohibits the collection of any capitation fee.
Government Initiatives for Education Quality and Infrastructure:
* The Central Government supports States and UTs through the Samagra Shiksha scheme, providing financial assistance to reduce dropout rates and increase enrolment in Government schools.
* The PM SHRI scheme aims to establish over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools by strengthening existing schools managed by Central Government/State/UT Governments/local bodies.
* PM SHRI schools are selected through a Challenge Mode to become exemplar schools, focusing on enhancing educational quality, infrastructure, and student outcomes.
* Learning Enrichment Programs (LEP) in PM SHRI schools target remedial teaching for students in classes 6-12.
* Regular teacher capacity-building programs are conducted to enhance pedagogical skills.
* Competency-based assessments and holistic report cards are used for student evaluation.
* The Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan encourages innovative teaching through science and math circles and expert mentoring.
* PM SHRI Schools are provisioned with science labs, ICT-enabled smart classrooms, libraries, furniture, playgrounds, Atal Tinkering Labs, and digital learning tools.
* Eco-friendly initiatives like LED lighting, composting facilities, and medicinal gardens are being introduced in schools.
* The CBSE has developed the School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF) to improve curriculum quality, infrastructure, and assessment.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments and UT Administrations:
* Impact: Responsible for regulating private school fees and ensuring compliance with the RTE Act.
* Action Required: Enforce regulations related to school fees and reservations under the RTE Act.
Private Unaided Schools:
* Impact: Required to adhere to RTE Act provisions, including reservations for disadvantaged students and prohibition of capitation fees.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with RTE Act provisions, particularly regarding reservations and fees.
Students (especially from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups):
* Impact: Benefit from the RTE Act's provisions for free and compulsory education and reservations in private schools.
* Action Required: Avail themselves of the opportunities provided under the RTE Act.
Central Government (Ministry of Education):
* Impact: Responsible for providing financial assistance and guidance through schemes like Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI schemes.
Government School Teachers and Principals:
* Impact: Will participate in capacity-building programs and implement new teaching methodologies.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs and implement new methodologies.
Key Entities Referenced
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, mentioned in relation to a report on private schools.
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education RTE Act, 2009: A law in India that mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14.
Samagra Shiksha: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Central Government to assist States and UTs in education.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas KGBV: Residential schools for girls from disadvantaged communities, up to class 12.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas: Residential schools/hostels.
PM SHRI scheme: A scheme to strengthen existing schools managed by Central/State/UT Governments/local bodies to become exemplar schools.
Unified District Information System for Education Plus UDISE: A system developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education to record data on school education.
Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE: A national level board of education in India for public and private schools.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-36
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
UNESCO Report on Private Schools
†36. Shri Jugal Kishore:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that seven out of every ten new schools established in the country during the last
eight years are private independent schools according to a UNESCO report, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is fact that there is a huge increase in the tuition fees of these schools;
(c) if so, the manner in which the target of providing good quality education to all would be achieved;
and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to increase the ratio of Government schools equipped with
qualitative basic infrastructure?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) and (b): The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education has
developed the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) system to record data
on indicators of school education provided by all the States and Union Territories. As per UDISE+
2023-24, number of Private Unaided schools established in the country from the year 2019-20 to 2023-
24 are 24403 out of 33869. The government schools in the country are more than 69%.
Further, education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and the opening, closing and
rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State Government and UT
Administration. Therefore, matters relating to fees charged by private schools and related issues are
regulated in terms of Rules and Instructions of the respective State Government concerned.
However, under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, every
child, of the age of six to fourteen years, has a right to free and compulsory elementary education in a
neighbourhood school. Section 12(1) (c) of the RTE Act, 2009 mandates reservation in private unaided
schools for children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups to the extent of at least 25%
seats at entry level and provision of free and compulsory elementary education to such children till its
completion. Also, Section 13 of the RTE Act, 2009 clearly prohibits the collection of any capitation fee.
(c) and (d): Central Government assist States and UTs through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of
Samagra Shiksha. Financial assistance is also provided to the States and UTs for various activities to
reduce dropout and increase enrolment in Government schools, which include opening/strengthening of
new schools up to senior secondary level, strengthening school infrastructure, setting up, up gradation
and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) upto class 12, setting up of residential
schools/hostel named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, transport allowance,
undertaking enrolment drives, seasonal hostels/residential camps, provision of vocational education and
ICT facilities in schools, providing free text books and free uniform, transport/escort facility, etc,
financial assistance is also provided for aids and appliances for children with special needs.Under the PM SHRI scheme, there is a provision of setting up of more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools by
strengthening the existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/State/UT
Government/local bodies. Selection of PM SHRI schools is through Challenge Mode wherein Schools
compete for support to become exemplar schools.
The PM SHRI scheme aims to enhance educational quality, infrastructure, and student outcomes in PM
SHRI schools. Activities such as Learning Enrichment Programs (LEP) focus on remedial teaching for
students in classes 6-12, ensuring that all learners meet the required competency levels. Regular teacher
capacity-building programs, including training of Principals, teachers, and special educators, are to be
conducted to enhance pedagogical skills. Competency-based assessments and the introduction of holistic
report cards ensure a well-rounded evaluation of students. Programs like the Rashtriya Aavishkar
Abhiyan encourage innovative teaching through science and math circles, mentoring by eminent
experts, and exposure visits to inspire interest in STEM education.
To enhance infrastructure, PM SHRI Schools has a provision of science labs, ICT-enabled smart
classrooms, library, furniture and playground. Further, Atal Tinkering Labs, and digital learning tools
like smart boards supporting modern, technology-driven education. Efforts like the introduction of LED
lighting, composting facilities, and medicinal gardens create eco-friendly "green schools."
To improve the quality of curriculum, infrastructure and assessment, CBSE has developed School
Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF). SQAAF is a set of standards and best
practices as paradigms for attaining individual and institutional excellence
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