High level meeting: Edu deptt to discuss syllabus curtailment, tuition fee

Srinagar, Oct 17: Under fire from parents, Education Department is holding a crucial meeting on Friday to discuss the syllabus curtailment and tuition fee charged by the private schools.

 “Curtailment of syllabus and tuition fee charged by private schools is high on the agenda of the meeting which will be chaired by the Advisor to governor, Farooq Khan. The decision whether there will be curtailment of syllabus will be taken in the meeting. Final decision regarding waiving off tuition fee in private schools will also be taken,” said an official of education department, Kashmir.

Schools across the valley have remained closed since August 5, when central government revoked the special status of the state and divided the state into two union territories. Since government has announced the examination schedule, students are groping in dark as there is no word about the syllabus.

Earlier on October 17, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Baseer Khan had directed all the deputy commissioners to ensure that no student shall be charged with tuition and transportation fee.

He had said that violation of which will lead to cancellation of registration.  However, there was no official order from government directing the private schools to waive off tuition and transportation fee.

Parents of various private schools have already deposited tuition as well as bus fee in the respective schools.

Speaking to The Kashmir Monitor, President Private School Association, GN Var said there are around 6500 employees working with various private schools of the valley.

 “If private schools will waive off fee of two months than they will not be able to pay salaries to their employees. If government will compensate their employees we are ready to waive off fee and we are waiting for the government order,” he said.