The Department of Education has prepared a draft bill for the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions (Accounts, Fees & other Matters) Bill, 2011.
Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman, said that Education is important for the all round development of a human being and is a most important factor in the socio-economic development of a nation. He said that due to increasing demand for access to education, private schools have been set up at various places in the State and are playing important role. He said that it is important that these privately managed schools functioned in a transparent manner and charge reasonable fees in the interest of students and parents. He said that it had been decided to repeal the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation Act, 1997 (Act No. 14 of 1999) which was enacted primarily to issue permission and for maintenance of accounts and re-enact a Law which may provide for maintenance of Accounts, Fees and other matters of the private educational institutions in a transparent manner.
Education Minister said that the proposed Law provides that private educational institutions shall maintain proper accounts, get the accounts audited from the Chartered Accountant and also publish their accounts. Further, it provides that these institutions shall charge fees and funds, which shall be reasonable in nature. He said that it further empowers the competent authority to inspect the private educational institutions and also not to allow closure of any institution without making adequate arrangements for continuation of the study of the students already admitted. He said that it also provides for penalty for contravening of the provisions of the Act. He said that now the recognitions to private educational institutions are to be given under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (Central Act). Therefore provisions relating to recognition to private educational institutions have not been incorporated under the proposed Law.
The copy of draft bill is also available on the department of Higher Education website. He said that the department of Education is inviting suggestions and comments on proposed Bill from general public and private educational institutes which can be sent to Principal Secretary, Education, Government of Himachal Pradesh, Armsdale Building, H.P. Sectt. Shimla-171002. The suggestions and comments cam also be sent on email address: secy-hedu-hp@nic.in or Fax No. 0177-2620043 within one month which will be considered to take further action in the matter.
