Education Department Warns Private Schools On Fee Hike

SRINAGAR: The School Education Department (SED) has warned private schools of Valley’s North and Central Kashmir districts of strict action for unilateral hike in tuition fees and other charges collected from the parents under different heads.

As per the circular instructions issued by the Joint director Central and North Kashmir districts, the private schools have been warned to refrain from giving unilateral hike in fees and remain careful in future, while going for a revision or hike in fees.

“Parents of students studying in Private Schools of Central and North Kashmir districts are openly coming in social media, print and electronic media to express their anger and grievances with regard to overcharging of various fees like admission fee ,tuition fee and bus fees collected by the Private Institutions from the students in Brazen violation of rules and regulations and cannons prescribed by the (FFRC) Fee Fixation Review Committee established by the Govt of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory,” the circular reads.

The move as per the department circular has been viewed “very seriously” by the higher authorities and the stakeholders.

“Parents of the students who have to bear the brunt of the onslaught of this unilateral hike of fees by the unbridled School Managements, who are always in search of opportunities to give a hike to the fee in any Head/Sector without any plausible justification and slap this Hukum-I-Tughlak to the parents through WhatsApp/SMS/Telephonic-Calls,” the circular reads.

The department has observed that the private school managements have become so arrogant that they withhold the results of the students who don’t pay advance fees of the current month which is yet to finish.

“They don’t bother or feel it necessary to consult the Parent Body, Working Committee or any official machinery to get the hike of charges examined, discussed, justified, and finally accepted by one and all,” the circular reads.

The joint director has warned the Private School Managements to remain careful in future, while going for a revision or hike in fees and shall immediately consult the Chief Education Officers or Zonal Education Officers concerned and the Parents Body of that school and move a proposal for any such hike.

“With this, the menace of overcharging of fees, exorbitant admission fees are streamlined as per standard of school, the facilities provided by school, quality of education, transport facilities, playground,” it reads.

The Joint Director has issued instructions to all the Chief Education Officers and Zonal Education Officers of all the six districts including, Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara to mobilize themselves and re-activate their institutions.

“Make surprise visits to your school jurisdictions and take cognizance of complaints received in this behalf and take a strong notice of violations to curb this menace with Iron hard and restore confidence and faith of General Public, Parents and students in the law of the land and law enforcing agencies,” the circular reads. (KNO)