Srinagar: Following complaints that some private schools have unilaterally hiked the annual charges, besides monthly tuition and transport fees, the School Education Department Wednesday summoned those institutions, asking them to explain their position.
According to the news agency KNO, Joint Director, Central and North Kashmir, has in this regard shot a notice to three private educational institutions.
“A large number of complaints have been received through Parents Associations of Private Schools Kashmir (PAPSK) from time to time against your unilateral and illegal hike in annual charges, monthly (tuition) fees and transport fees without the consent and consultation of parents of students studying in your institution,” reads the official communique to these schools.
“You dictate them (students and their parents) to purchase books from such and such shops with strict instructions to parents to keep one set of books in school and one at home,” reads the notice.
Reprimanding these schools for taking students and parents for a ride through their “Tughlaq-i-Farman” (senseless diktats), the Joint Director said, this approach has sent shock waves to the teaching fraternity and students and society at large.
The notice reads that the “illegal commands” to the parents from these schools depicts their selfish mindset and aristocratic approach which the society is not going to accept, nor could these schools be allowed to wield “unbridled powers under the garb of imparting education”.
“It is a slap on the face to the society which is seeking the right to education as a fundamental right. But your materialistic mindset commercialization of educational institutes as teaching shops has closed the chances for the younger generation to reap benefits of higher education,” reads the notice.
The Joint Director said that Directorate of School Education has received evidence in the shape of undertakings, receipts and documents which serve as a proof of the “dictatorial orders (of schools), which shall be taken back forthwith so that the students and the parents heave a sigh of relief.”
You are as such directed to roll back these orders which force (the parents) to deposit additional money under various heads – including annual charges and tuition fees, directs the official notice to these schools.
The Joint Director has directed the schools to respond to the complaint and attend this DSEK along with the fee structure of the last three years, and explain the reasons for such hike in the fees.
“You are directed to attend DSEK on April 27, 2023 with documentary evidence without fail,” the notice reads. (With inputs from KNO)
