Srinagar : Amid Coronavirus crisis, the J&K administration Wednesday said that the private schools in Kashmir valley were violating the orders of Government Fee Fixation Committee (GFFC) by charging tuition fee as well as miscellaneous fee in the name of tuition fee.
The government warned the private schools of strict action in terms of relevant provisions of Law in case of any violation found against the school management.
According to the circular issued by Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), a copy of which is in possession with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), complaints against various private schools were pouring of charges of miscellaneous and other charges.
The government order states that the administrative department has issued instructions to private schools in view of COVID-19 pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir with the directions that the last date of deposit school fees is extended up to April-30 without any late fees and no school shall either charge any fee for the online Lecturers or assignments or shall link the result of the child on the basis of home assignment.
“The Management bodies of all CBSE or BOSE affiliated private schools of UT Jammu and Kashmir were directed to issue appropriate directions in this regard,” it reads.
It was also mentioned that the administrative department in a circular issued on May-14 has directed to charge only tuition fee shall from students on monthly basis instead of quarterly basis for the lockdown period
The government further said that it has also ordered that “No fee hike shall be made during the academic session 2020-21. Annual fee, if any, can be charged monthly on a pro-rata basis, after schools reopen. No School shall deny access to online education material or classes to poor or deserving students unable to pay school fees due to the prevailing situation.”
In an order, DSEK said that GFFC on January- 28- last year has already regulated and fixed the fee of private educational institutions of JK wherein it was directed that the tuition Fee (monthly basis) which be reflective of the recurring expenditure being incurred for running the school such as the salary of staff, electricity bill, water supply bills etc.
“Annual fee which includes the annual depreciation of the investment made for setting up of the school clubbed with repair and maintenance costs and may also include all other one time fees such as examination fee, computer fee, sports fee etc wherever applicable,” it said.
The government also said that the GFFC has also ordered that the transport fee shall be charged only from the students availing the transport facility of the school on an actual basis.
Keeping in consideration the notifications and orders, “Complaints are pouring at DSEK that the school management are charging tuition fee as well as miscellaneous fee under the caption of tuition fee which totally contradicts with the GFFC order,” reads the order.
The government directed the recognized private schools to adhere to the instructions in letter and spirit while collecting the monthly tuition fee during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic, “In case of any violation, action shall be initiated against the school management in terms of relevant provisions of law,” the government said—(KNO)
