Schools directed to publish list of curriculum books
Parents free to purchase books from open market, says Director School education
Srinagar: The government on Saturday directed the private schools owners to make the list of text books public on their school website.
The instructions were issued during a meeting convened by the director school education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo with parents and representatives of the private school associations.
In the meeting the parents of various schools put forth their grievances and blamed the private schools for openly fleecing the parents of the students enrolled in their institutions.
“RP School has prescribed 13 text books for 3rd primary which is unnecessary burden on the school going children and the books are costly which are not afforded by every parent,” said one of the parents.
The parents took on the private school representatives for changing the curriculum every year for the students due to which the parents who enroll more than one child in the school don’t afford to purchase new text books for their wards.
“They have made it a business instead of the imparting quality education to the students. They even don’t abide by the government directions,” the parents said.
In response to the complaints raised by the parent, president private schools association Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) G N Var said the association was always at forefront to cooperate with the parents but the issues are raised due to the miscommunication between the parents and the schools management.
To this the parents responded by saying that the schools never allow the parents to meet the Principal except in parent teacher meeting (PTM).
Meanwhile, DSEK, G N Itoo directed the private schools to take parents on board before taking any policy decision and directed them to inform parents in advance about any change in the curriculum.
“Till now schools have been taking decisions and inform parents after finalizing the decisions but from now onwards, the parents should be taken on board before taking any minor or major decision,” Itoo said.
He said the schools should publicize the text books on their websites so that parents can purchase them from open market as per their convenience.
“Private schools are part and parcel of the government education sector but it should not be turned into a business hub,” he said.
KV Correspondent
