Private schools violating govt orders on heating, other charges
DSEK promises action in case parents report
Srinagar: In a blatant violation of government orders, the private schools are charging heating and other charges from the students for the winter vacation period despite the government orders asking schools not to charge for the facilities which are not availed by the students during the vacation period.
Parents said the schools were already charging the fee for these facilities before the government orders were issued by the department for the private schools.
“Most of the private schools have already charged the fee in the month of November at the onset of the new academic session. Even some of the schools are charging it now from the parents,” said Muhammad Afzal, a parent from Srinagar.
He said the schools were forcing the parents to pay for the heating and other charges from the students. “We approached the concerned chief education officers (CEOs) to look into the matter but no school was put to task by the department,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a parent from Baramulla.
Jammu and Kashmir Joint Coordination Committee of Private Schools (JKJCCPS) Wednesday said private schools are charging tuition fee in schools as approved by the school fee fixation committee (SFFC) and the directorate of school education Kashmir (DSEK).
President JKJCCPS ShowkatChoudary said no school was arbitrarily charging any fee from parents other than tuition fee.
“School Fee Fixation Committee, as per High Court directions, approves the fee for a full calendar year and not on monthly basis. If the parents have any complaint against any school they should register their complaint with the association,” he said.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said action will be initiated against the private schools who are charging fee for facilities which are not availed by the students.
“Schools are allowed to charge only tuition fee from the students. If parents will register their complaints with the department, we will initiate action against such schools,” he said.
KV Correspondent
