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| 5000 schools ordered not to raise fee; harassed parents heave a sigh of relief | | Fleecing by J&K's private schools to end soon | | Early Times Report
Jammu/srinagar, July 31: Fleecing of parents by private schools in J&K is likely to end, as a government-appointed committee for fixation of fee structure has ordered around 5000 private schools across the state not to hike their fee from next academic session without its permission.
After the Committee for Fixation of Fee Structure of Private Educational Institutions was formed, its chairman Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki asked the private schools across the state to get their fee structure approved from the Committee as per the Supreme Court guidelines. The Committee, constituted in May this year by the Education Department following a direction from the High Court, also directed the private schools of the state to submit the proposed fee structure for new academic session before it within 15 days.
The Committee invoked Supreme Court guidelines to rein in the private institutions. Under the apex court guidelines, imparting of education has been declared 'charitable in nature' and that the surplus amount generated has to be used for betterment of the institute and not for personal gain or diverted to other businesses.
Quoting the Supreme Court ruling, Justice Nazki in a circular has said: "In the light of this judgement, it is imperative for all private educational institutions in the state to submit the proposed fee structure for approval before the Committee."
"It is also clear from the judgment that although educational institutions are free to fix their fee structure yet they can't have a fee structure without approval of the Committee," the circular said.
The private schools have been asked to submit the details of the infrastructure of the school and facilities they offer to the students. They have been asked to submit the fee details charged from the students, like amount charged at the stage of admission, fee per month of each class and bus charges. As per the guidelines, the schools have to justify their fee structure as per their infrastructure.
They have also been asked to submit the details regarding the qualification of the teachers and salaries that are paid to them. They have been asked to disclose the financial sources, property owned by school and the buses owned or leased by the school.
Around 5000 private schools across the state will not be allowed to introduce any hike in their fee structure from next academic session without prior permission from the Committee. The next academic session starts in autumn in Kashmir valley and summer in Jammu division.
Justice Nazki said that the Supreme Court had issued clear guidelines on the free structure by private schools. The committee has incorporated most of the guidelines issued by the Apex Court in its circular.
The Supreme Court judgement in the case of Islamic Academy of Education Versus State of Karnataka reported in 2003 laid down the guidelines that brought major relief to thousands of parents across the country.
The Supreme Court had categorically stated that private unaided schools do not have the right to hike fees.
Meanwhile, the parents harassed by various private schools have heaved a sigh of relief following the intervention of the government-appointed committee for fixation of fee structure.
"Finally, someone has come to our rescue and saved us from further fleecing," said Ajaz Ahmad, whose son studies in Delhi Public School, Budgam. "We hope no minister or official sells himself and supports these schools as has happened in the past," he said.
Over the years, the parents had been complaining of exorbitant admission fees and the so-called 'annual charges.' The complaints had been often lodged with the Directorate of Education in both Srinagar and Jammu. But the complaints remained unheeded. |
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