news details |
|
|
| Private schools’ nexus with business houses take parents for a ride | | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 11: With admission process going on in all private schools of Jammu region, the new academic session is bound to pinch parents as almost all schools here are all set to hike their fee yet again by a minimum of 7 per cent to 12 per cent.
Besides, the private schools have virtually made mandatory for the students to purchase textbooks, stationery items and uniforms from them only.
“This is a nexus among the business houses and school authorities to overburden the parents by compelling them to buy every item from the school only and pay the amount on the spot,” said, Rakesh Bakshi, one of the parents whose child studies in a prominent school of the city.
Bakshi maintained, “Even my daughter’s socks having initials of the school stitched on it have to be purchased from the school otherwise she would have to face the wrath of the school management.”
Sarita Khajuria, mother of Sahil Khajuria studying in the same school regretted, “Schools have turned into shops today, which are ripping parents off through their unjustified fee and nexus with the booksellers or uniform guys.”
She also came down heavily on school education department and said, “All the tall promises being made by the department with the parents last year have fallen flat as the schools are going to increase their fee yet again. I think the only respite we can look forward is to initiate legal action against the department.”
“Other than the fee, it’s the insistence by the schools to buy books and uniforms from specific dealers which further overburden the parents. This practice is yet to be another sophisticated form of undue extortion,” she alleged.
Sanjay Jamwal, principal of a reputed school, said, “No doubt, we are a big school but that doesn't mean we don't need to increase the fees. At a time when inflation rate is crossing the 15 per cent mark and we have construction expense, besides bearing an increased expense of more than Rs 10,000 per teacher on their salary, we have to see how we can meet our expenses."
As per the survey conducted in some of the city schools, it was established that the private schools have been charging exorbitant admission fee ranging between Rs 3000 to Rs 20,000. Besides, most of the private schools also charge monthly tuition fee ranging between Rs 900 to Rs 2,000 per month.
“These schools also compel parents to buy textbooks, notebooks, uniforms and other stationary items either from specific dealers or from them,” said reports, adding parents are being forced to pay a hefty amount as prospectus fee, boarding charges and transport facility. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
