Transportation charges waiver:Private schools flout govt directive

Srinagar, Oct 26: Top private schools are openly flouting the government order and charging transportation fee from the students for August and September.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan had recently ordered that all private schools in the valley shall not charge transportation fee from the students for August and September. “Strict action will be taken against the schools which will charge transportation fee from the students,” he said on October 19.

However, many schools in the valley are charging transportation fee from the students in violation of government order.

“I visited the school to collect assignment for my daughter. But the teachers asked me to deposit tuition fee as well as bus fee for August and September. I was stunned,” said a parent.

Another parent, whose ward is studying in a reputed missionary school in Srinagar, said: “I went to collect admit card for my son, but I was told to deposit tuition as well as bus fee.”

He said the school even charged him late fee. “I have never been late. I pay fee online but since internet was not working and schools were shut, I was not able to do the transaction,” he said.

Chief Education Officer, Srinagar, Naseer Malik said they have received written complaint against many reputed schools for charging transportation fee.

“We are going to take strict action against them. Parents should file written complaints. We promise that their identity will be kept confidential,” he said

Schools across the valley have remained closed since August 5, when central government revoked the special status and divided the state into two union territories.