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Gujarat Assembly passes an amendment bill bringing private aided secondary and higher secondary schools under the state education law and increasing penalties for violations.
The Gujarat Assembly on Thursday passed the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by a majority vote. The Bill seeks to bring government-aided private secondary and higher secondary schools under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Act, 1972.
The amendment will also introduce stricter rules for schools and their administrators, including higher penalties for serious violations and operating without registration. Under the proposed provisions, government-aided schools will have to recruit special educators for students with disabilities. The state government will set qualification and selection rules for principals, teachers, special educators and non-teaching staff in these schools.
For non-granted schools, the government will determine the qualifications required for these positions, while schools will continue to handle their appointments. The Bill also seeks to ensure full implementation of the state’s reservation policy in staff recruitment. School administrators could face stronger penalties for serious negligence and violations of regulations.
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For example, an administrator who makes an illegal appointment of a teacher or principal in a government-aided school could face a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. The existing penalty is Rs 1,000.
The Bill also raises penalties for operating a school without registration. Such violations could attract imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 15 lakh. Another provision concerns schools that shut down without giving the education board six months’ prior notice. The current fine of Rs 1,000 would increase to Rs 20 lakh under the proposed amendment.
The changes are aimed at bringing private aided schools under a clearer regulatory framework while strengthening accountability around staffing, registration and school operations.