| Fee panel goes topsy turvey, private institutions make merry | | | Mustansir
SRINAGAR, Aug 3: Fee Structure Panel constituted on the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in the month of April to check up the fee structure of private institutions has not been fully equipped and is still understaffed.
The five-member committee, which as per the Supreme Court guidelines, was supposed to be set up in 2002 was constituted in April 2013. Committee is headed by former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice (Retired) Bilal Ahmed Nazki, Secretary Education, a reputed Chartered Accountant, nominated by Chairman of the committee, and a representative of J&K Board of School Education (BOSE). According to reliable sources the panel has not been provided with any internet facility and even stationery items are not available with the committee. Though the decision of constituting the panel was expected to bring relief to thousands of parents in Jammu and Kashmir, non-availability of infrastructure is marring the functioning of the panel.
Pertinently, it was binding on the private institutions to work under the directions of the panel and any institution cannot hike fee without taking approval from the committee. Panel will have a final say on deciding fee proposed by private schools of the State and the schools cannot increase fee without prior approval from the panel.
In this context, committee has already issued a circular on July 12, 2013 under circular number FSPEI/1/ 2013 directing the private institutions to furnish information about the classes taught in the school, number of sections in each class (with area of each class, number of students in each section of each class,) facilities offered, number of toilets, number and particulars of the teachers (name, qualification, salary), statement of accounts certified by Chartered Account for 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012, 13.
However, according to the sources not many schools have furnished their details so for due to which the panel has been forced to extend the deadline from July 27 to August 12. They said that there are about 8843 private educational institutions registered with State Board of school education and only a few schools have submitted reports regarding their fee structure and other details about management, salary statement of teachers and properties owned by them. |
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