SRINAGAR: Education Minister Itoo on Wednesday said private schools must allow parents to purchase textbooks and uniforms from vendors of their choice, making it clear that no school should compel them to buy educational material from a particular bookseller or publisher.
Chairing a meeting with representatives of private schools, parents’ associations, civil society groups and non-governmental organisations, Itoo also called for greater coordination between government and private institutions, directing officials to address concerns over textbook pricing, school recognition, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and other administrative issues.
The meeting comes ahead of the proposed commencement of the new academic session in November, with the minister asking officials to ensure that textbooks, syllabi and other academic requirements are arranged well in advance.
Itoo called for the formation of a representative committee comprising private school associations, parents’ groups, selected NGOs and Education Department officials to examine issues affecting the sector and recommend measures to improve transparency and accountability. She asked the Commissioner Secretary, School Education, Ram Niwas Sharma, to prepare a proposal for the committee at the earliest.
On complaints concerning textbooks and uniforms, the minister said parents must retain the freedom to choose where they purchase these items. She asked private school managements to address grievances over pricing and availability promptly and avoid practices that undermine public confidence.
The minister also stressed that private schools must comply with applicable rules governing the engagement and service conditions of teaching staff, while calling for greater academic coordination between government and private institutions within the prescribed curriculum framework.
Taking note of concerns over delays in processing NOCs and other procedural requirements, Itoo called for simpler administrative procedures, better coordination among offices and timely, transparent disposal of eligible cases.
Issues concerning school lease arrangements and the functioning of the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee were also discussed. The minister said matters affecting students’ academic interests would be examined under the applicable legal and administrative framework. She noted that steps had been taken, wherever feasible, to prevent students from missing examinations because of pending issues.
Emphasising that the objective should be to improve educational standards rather than compare government and private institutions, Itoo acknowledged the contribution of both sectors and called for collective efforts to improve learning outcomes and provide students with a conducive learning environment.
Senior officials attending the meeting included the Chairman and Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education, the Directors of School Education, Jammu and Kashmir, and other departmental officers.
