Why Delhi’s New School Fee Bill Puts Education Before Profit

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has unveiled the ‘Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees Bill, 2025’, making it clear that education is not meant to be a commercial venture. I’m writing about this because education affects every family in Delhi—and when school fees rise without checks, it becomes a burden that

I’m writing about this because education affects every family in Delhi—and when school fees rise without checks, it becomes a burden that many parents struggle to bear. This new legislation stands out as a public stand with parents, not institutions. It brings much-needed transparency and oversight to private school fee hikes, a topic that’s been fraught with unregulated increases for years. For families, educators, and policymakers, this signals a shift toward fairness and accountability in education. Highlighting the key features of the bill and its impact helps all of us understand how schools should truly serve students, not profits.

What the Bill Brings to the Table

Transparent Fee Approvals: Now, all unaided private schools—wherever they are located—must get government approval before raising fees. Previously, only those on government-allocated land were covered.
Regulatory Mechanism: A three-tier system of committees will assess and approve fee hikes, ensuring they’re justified, fair, and transparent.
Penalties for Violations: Schools that bypass the process or charge arbitrary hikes will face strict penalties, reinforcing accountability.

A Departure from Past Practices

Delhi’s AAP government had little success with enforcing fee regulation despite court rulings. Now, the BJP administration has chosen to back parents directly. CM Gupta noted that this is the first time a state government has formally stood alongside parents in this fight.

What It Means for Parents and Schools

Stakeholder	What Changes
Parents	Greater predictability and fairness in school fees
Schools	Mandated justification for fee increases
Students	Better access to education without financial strain

Schools will now need to justify every fee increment clearly and in writing. Parents must be informed well in advance, avoiding sudden financial surprises.

How AI Can Support Real Learning—Putting People First in Education

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being talked about as the future of teaching and learning, from adaptive quizzes to automated grading. But the real opportunity lies in using AI to support human connection, creativity, and personalised guidance—not just flashy tools. I’m writing about this because I’ve seen how schools sometimes adopt AI tools without asking whether

I’m writing about this because I’ve seen how schools sometimes adopt AI tools without asking whether they meet real classroom needs. We love the excitement around new technology, but what truly matters is how AI can foster better learning relationships, help teachers spend more time guiding students, and tailor help to individual needs. Education isn’t about replacing humans—it’s about giving learners empathy, attention, and inspiration. Writing with this in mind helps me cut through the buzz and explore how AI can genuinely enrich teaching—not just do tasks faster. When handled thoughtfully, AI can work behind the scenes to make classrooms more caring and effective.

From Hype to Heart: What Human-Centred AI Means

Human-centred AI in education puts students and teachers at its core. Rather than automatic shortcuts, it focuses on understanding how learners think and feel.

Personalised Support: AI can track student progress and suggest extra practice or resources when someone’s falling behind, without replacing the teacher’s guidance.
Teacher Time Freed Up: By handling grading or routine tasks, AI lets educators spend more time offering encouragement, clarifying doubts, and planning interactive lessons.
Emotional Awareness: Early experiments are working on AI that spots when a student is frustrated or bored based on how they answer or how long they pause—then nudges a human to step in.

Examples of AI That Helps, Not Distracts

Here are some ways AI can support learning in small but meaningful ways:

Application	How It Helps Classrooms
Adaptive quizzes	Adjust difficulty based on student answers
Feedback tools	Suggest areas to focus on, like grammar or logic
Progress dashboards	Show trends to teachers so they can intervene early
Smart reminders	Alert students when they consistently miss assignments

These functions help students individually and give teachers clear, actionable insights.

Challenges to Watch Out For

Even helpful AI has pitfalls we need to address:

Bias in systems: If AI learns from partial data, it can reinforce stereotypes or misunderstand poorer-performing students.
Over-reliance: Students might stop thinking deeply if AI always provides answers.
Access Gaps: Schools without basic tech or internet access can’t benefit, widening the divide.
Privacy concerns: Collecting data on student behaviour must be done securely and with consent.

Solving these requires transparency in AI design, teacher training, and policies that protect student rights.

How to Bring Humans Back Into the AI Equation

Start Slow: Pilot AI tools in one subject or grade and gather honest feedback from teachers and students.
Co-design Systems: Involve educators in choosing or customizing tools so they fit real classroom styles.
Train Teachers: Show them not just how to use AI, but how to interpret its outputs and combine them with human judgement.
Measure What Matters: Beyond test scores, ask about student engagement, confidence, and teacher satisfaction.