FICCI Alliance for Re-Imagining School Education (FICCI ARISE) in collaboration with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co launched the fourth edition of Model Self - Financed Independent Schools (Recognition and Fee Regulation) Code for states to regulate the establishment and operation of new schools and recognition of existing schools as self-financed independent schools. The report was released during the second FICCI ARISE Members’ Meeting held on May 29, 2023 at New Delhi.

Most states do not have defined legislation for self-financed independent schools. Legislations governing government schools mostly cover self-financed independent schools. There have been several pronouncements by the apex court and various high courts in this regard. All this leads to overlaps and ambiguities that promote misguided activism and litigation. Educators have to, unfortunately, deal with this regulatory maze almost on a daily basis. Quality becomes the victim as educators’ time gets diverted from classroom teaching to fixing avoidable regulatory issues.

The Code was originally released in 2017 that has evolved overtime based on consultative process with stakeholders and authorities in various States. This updated version 4.0 is aligned with National Education Policy 2020, similar acts in States such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and the recent verdicts delivered by various courts.

The FICCI ARISE report pushes for urgent and bold reforms, including unleashing the private sector's potential in improving the country's learning outcomes.