3. (1) A recognised School shall determine its fee structure under sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 4 for different classes/grades/school levels commensurate to, interalia, meeting its operational expenses, proving for augmentation of facilities and expansion of infrastructure and for providing facilities to the students, to generate reasonable surplus to be utilised for development of educational purposes including establishment of a new branch or a new school under the management of the same eligible educational entity;
(2) The procedure for collecting fees in a school shall be open, transparent and accountable;
(3) The fees to be charged shall be classified as:-
(a) Possible Fee Components:- The school may fix any combination of one or all of the following fee components:-
(i) Prospectus and Registration fee:- It shall be
(ii) Admission fee:- At the first time of new admission to the school;
(iii) Examination fee:- shall be payable for examinations;
(iv) Composite Annual Fee:- Single head annual recurring fee payable each year;
Provided that, upon commencement of this Act, any recognised school charging recurring fee under different heads, shall, from the ensuing academic year, be required to club all such heads into a single head recurring fee as provided.
(b) Optional Fee Components:- Various fee payable for optional activities and facilities provided by the school, including:-
(i) transport;
(ii) boarding;
(iii) mess or dining;
(iv) excursions;
(v) any other similar activity;
(c) Refundable Charge- Security money/ caution money shall be returned to the students on clearing all applicable dues at the time of leaving the school by the student, provided that the amount of such Security/Caution Money shall not be more than fifty percent of composite annual fee. Security money/caution money will be refunded with interest for the duration of the deposit with the school, at prevalent rate of State Bank of India saving account. Security money/caution money shall be refunded by the school within thirty days from the issuing date of transfer certificate through epayment.
(4) Head of the school of every recognised school shall, before the commencement of each academic year, file with the appropriate authority, a full statement of the fees to be levied by such school during the ensuing academic year;
(5) Such school shall upload the statement of fee on its website sixty days prior to commencement of each academic year, and also publish on notice-board. However in the present year it shall be within thirty days of coming into force of this Act;
(6) While publishing the statement of fees, the school shall also specify whether the payment is to be made in monthly or quarterly or half-yearly installments. Provided that no school shall solely provide that the fee be paid on annual basis;
(7) No school shall, except with the prior approval of the appropriate authority, charge, during the academic year, any fee in excess of the fee intimated to the appropriate authority under subsection (4);
(8) Every recognised school shall ensure that no capitation fee is charged;
(9) Receipt shall be issued for every fee or charge levied on the student;
(10) No Student shall be compelled to purchase books, shoes, socks and uniform etc. from a particular shop;
(11) School dress shall not be changed by school within five consecutive academic years. If change is required, it can be changed with proper justification with prior approval of District Fee Regulatory Committee.