“Parents have to pay only for services their wards are provided”
Srinagar: Taking cognizance of the media reports and the complaints from the parents, Director School Education Kashmir, Dr. G.N. Itoo has warned the private schools of action under norms who are demanding lump sum fee and the charges for heating and transport facilities for the time when these facilities are not being provided by the school.
In this regard DSEK has issued a circular vide no. DSEK/PS/523, dated: 22-12-2018 and made such erring Institutions answerable and apprised the Government about the matter.
The circular reads as, “No school can force the parents to pay fee in one go. The school fee, as per norms, is to be paid only in monthly installments including for vacation period. During vacation period fee is to be charged only for the services which are being utilized by the students and no other fee can be charged.
Schools can charge only tuition fee in case of teachers and salary of drivers in case of transport. No heating charges can be recovered from students when these services are not being used by students during vacation period.”
DSEK has advised the administrators of Private schools of complying with these orders in letter and spirit and added that they can charge tuition and transport facilities from the parents for winter vacations only when they are giving the salary to the teachers and drivers for these months. DSEK said that private schools should collect the fees from the parents only on monthly basis as per norms.
The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Coordination Committee of Private Schools has assured Director School Education Kashmir that the rules and regulations of the Department shall be followed by all the private schools and the Coordination Committee shall stand by the side of the Department in taking any action against any private school violating these norms.