Srinagar schools collect extra money from students without keeping records

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Srinagar, Sep 4: Government-run higher secondary schools here have been over charging students for various academic-related expenses without maintaining any record of the money, students allege.

The schools such as NawaKadal Girls Higher Secondary, Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary, S P Higher Secondary school have been charging the students more than what they are required to pay for, say, the examinations or admissions.

Mehvish Rashid, a student from Nawa Kadal Girls Higher Secondary, said, “The examination fee is Rs 900, but the school made me pay Rs1,020. And I wasn’t given any receipt for the money.”

Mehvish said the school authorities charge them up to Rs 50 as fine for late entry into school.

“If we don’t give them the money, they don’t allow us to enter the classes and seize our bags,” she said. “The school doesn’t maintain any receipt for the money thus collected.”

Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education officials told The Kashmir Monitor that the examination fee for 11th and 12th classes is Rs 900 per student.

However, they said, the schools can charge Rs 30 extra per student as examination-form charges.

Rabiya, also a student of Nawa Kadal Higher Secondary, said, “The school charged me with Rs 50 for qualification certificate. They didn’t give me any receipt of that money.”

The school has a population of 1,200 students.

The schools charge students Rs 100-200 per head for admission form.

No receipts are given to students for the money.

Tabasum Altaf, from Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary School, said, “We submitted Rs 950 as examination fee. For admission forms, the school charged us Rs100 to 200. We don’t get receipts for the money.”

A 12th class student from SP Higher Secondary School, Suhaib said, “I submitted Rs 980 in school as examination fee without any receipt.”

Principal Nawa Kadal Girls Higher Secondary School, Fatima Shaheen Tak, said, “The money taken from the students, including examination fee charges or late arrival charges, are used to in printing and in overall development of the school.”

“Till now no government school has maintained receipts of the money. My school is no exception.”

While there has been no audit carried out to check the collection and use of the money, Fatimah said, “School has to get approval by the Directorate for spending more than Rs 25000.”

Director School Education, Dr Ghulam Nabi Itoo, said, “I don’t have any details regarding the issue.”

He, however, said they would collect information about it.

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