PCC chief Amarinder Singh today promised to set up a regulatory authority to monitor functioning of private schools in Punjab, if voted to power in the 2017 Assembly polls.
In a statement issued here, he said he had been approached by parents from across the state who sought his intervention to end the "loot and exploitation" by private school managements.
Maintaining that education reform was on the top of his agenda, the former CM said he would also ensure that private schools do not fleece poor parents.
Singh said parents had complained to him about overcharging of fees and also collecting money under different heads like like annual charges, readmission, co-circular activities, smart classes, which was "illegal and unacceptable".
Quoting CBSE guidelines, he said no extra fees could be charged without parents' consent and all the money earned has to be put back for further enhancement of educational facilities.
"Please ensure that you charge reasonable amount of money only so that people do not feel that they are exploited and extorted", he told private school managements.
