Pune: Admission Cancelled, Money gone? State to Make Fee Refunds Mandatory in Schools
Pune, 7th April 2026: The state government has taken note of rising complaints from parents about schools refusing to refund fees after admissions are cancelled, and is set to introduce a policy mandating fee refunds.
State Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh said a policy decision to make fee refunds compulsory will be announced soon, a move that is expected to curb arbitrary practices by schools and ease the financial burden on parents.
Parents have long complained of being financially exploited during the admission process, particularly by private schools. Many apply to multiple institutions to secure the best option for their children. In the process, they often take provisional admission in one school while awaiting confirmation from another. If admission is secured in a preferred school, they cancel the earlier admission.
However, in most cases, schools do not refund the fees paid at the time of initial admission, leaving parents distressed. Officials said the proposed policy will cover schools across all boards and mediums in the state.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said the decision is being framed at the policy level and will be announced formally soon.
The policy is likely to apply to key admission stages such as Classes 1, 5, 6 and 9. Authorities will study existing refund rules followed by boards such as CBSE and others before finalising the framework. A proposal will then be submitted to the state government for approval.
