By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 25: Meghalaya’s unregulated private education sector faces a legal ultimatum as calls grow for a statutory commission to end the arbitrary fee hikes and lack of transparency that have long burdened parents across the state.
The HID Foundation has submitted a memorandum to Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma and the Commissioner and Secretary of the Education Department, demanding a comprehensive regulatory framework for both government and private institutions.
The foundation proposed the enactment of the Meghalaya Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 2026, alongside specific rules to establish an Admission and Fee Regulatory Commission.
According to the foundation, the absence of a uniform mechanism has allowed for “commercialisation of education,” leaving parents to navigate opaque admission processes and sudden financial demands. It argued that a statutory body is necessary to rationalise fee structures and address grievances across schools, colleges, and universities. The proposal suggests an inclusive commission comprising academicians, legal experts, and stakeholders to ensure fairness.
Pointing to judicial directives, the foundation noted that while several other states have already established such regulatory bodies following court observations, Meghalaya has yet to implement a similar mechanism.
The memorandum stated that access to quality education is a human rights issue.
The foundation warned that failure by the government to act within a reasonable timeframe would compel it to seek legal recourse.
