Fleecing, harassing parents: JK Board suspends facilities to seven private schools in Kashmir

SRINAGAR:  Shedding kid-glove treatment, Jammu and Kashmir government has suspended all facilities including permission-cum-admission to seven top schools for harassing parents and not implementing fixation committee orders. 

The schools which have been put on notice include Iqbal Memorial Institute (Boys & Girls Wings) Bemina, Srinagar; Holy Faith Presentation School, Canal Avenue, Rawalpora Srinagar;  Hat Trick Public School Zakura Srinagar; Tiny Hearts School Tengpara, Bye-Pass Srinagar;  Green Valley Educational Institute, Illahi Bagh Buchpora Srinagar;  JK Public School Humhama Budgam and Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School, Raj Bagh Srinagar. 

An order issued by Joint Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), the facilities suspended include Registration Returns (RR), Permission-cum-Admission (PCA) forms of SSE (Class 10th), HSE-I (Class 11th), and HSE-II (Class 12th) in respect of these schools.

The facilities shall remain suspended till these schools furnish NOC(s) from the office of the Director School Education Kashmir. “Accordingly, all the concerned are directed not to entertain any affairs of the above Schools, till further instructions from this office,” the Joint Secretary added.

Director School Education, Kashmir (DSEK) told The Kashmir Monitor that no timeframe has been set for revoking the suspension. “They shall have to furnish the NOC. No timeframe has been set. They can submit it anytime. We will go through it and decide accordingly,” said Tasaduq.

This follows June 28 DSEK order asking all recognized Private Schools of Kashmir to stop charging miscellaneous charges for the session 2019-20 and 2020-21 from the parents henceforth and charge only tuition fee approved by the Fee Fixation Committee as already instructed vide series of circulars.

Earlier, the Directorate of School Education had served notices to Iqbal Memorial School, Bemina, Doon International School, HMT, Delhi Public School, Srinagar, Holy Faith School, Rawalpora, Minto Circle School, Aloochi Bagh, Hat Trick Public  School, Zakura, Tiny Hearts School, Tengpora, Green Valley Educational Institute, Buchpora,  and GD Goenka School, Lal Bazar.

“The complaints are pouring in that the school authorities are still charging undue dues and subsequently withholding the assignment of the students in question and compelling to clear the miscellaneous charges which are in violation of the instructions already issued by the Administrative Department during COVID- 19 pandemic,” said June 28 order issued by the Director of Education.

According to the order, only tuition fees shall be charged from the students on a monthly basis instead of a quarterly basis for the lockdown period.

“No fee hike shall be made during the academic session 2020-21. Annual fee, if any can be charged monthly on a pro-rata basis after schools reopen. No school shall deny access to online education material/Classes/ continuous assessment to poor deserving students unable to pay school fees due to prevailing situation,” the order said

The department has threatened to derecognize the schools without further notice, if the order is not complied with in toto.  

“In view of the above facts and taking note of the circumstances, it is impressed upon all recognized Private Schools of Kashmir Valley to stop charging miscellaneous charges for the session 2019-20 and 2020-21 from the parents henceforth and charge only tuition fee approved by the Fee Fixation Committee as already instructed vide series of circulars issued on this behalf either by the administrative department or this Directorate. The excess fee if any collected from the parents as reported by the Parents Association of Private Schools shall be adjusted in the tuition fee accordingly; incase any default in implementing the government instructions as mentioned above, strict action shall be initiated as per the provision of law which includes de-recognition of the school in terms of standing norms without further intimation,” the order said.

Earlier, a delegation of the Parents Association of Private Schools approached the directorate of education and apprised that the situation has worsened as the school authorities are forcing parents to clear their unpaid dues till May 2021 and are also asking for payment of annual/bus fee.