Amidst the controversial decision taken by government to hold exams in November, private schools have racked up a new controversy by asking students to pay tuition fee for the three months of shutdown.
The private schools particularly missionary schools are forcing parents to pay the tuition fee as well as the transportation charges for the past three months.
The move has agitated the parents who accused the school administration of harassing them and causing mental distress to the students.
“ It is a weird situation. Kashmir is on boil for the past three months but these private schools are asking for tuition fees,” said Muzaffar Ahmad, a parent from Srinagar. “ How is it possible to pay fee of our students in such crises.
Schools remained closed for three months and they are forcing us to pay fee for these months. It is totally illogical.” Parents said the administration of some missionary schools functioning in city have sent them telephonic messages asking them to clear the monthly dues of their students including the transportation charges.
“ We fail to understand why should we pay the tuition fee and transportation charges when there was no class work for three months. School buses didn’t ferry students as well. So school administration should take a holistic view on the issue and give some relaxation to parents,” a group of aggrieved parents said.
The parents said that schools were taking them for a ride by demanding fuel charges citing that they have to manage salary for the drivers and conductors of the buses.
“ They can manage their salaries from other sources as they seek huge donations at the time of admission of students. These schools are also aided by various institutions, so they should not harass the parents in the ongoing crises- like situation,” they said.
Interestingly, all the missionary schools are established on government land provided to them on lease at prime locations, however in return the school administration pays peanuts towards government as rent.
“ The irony is that most of these schools have not renewed their lease and have not paid the rent as well,” a senior official in district administration said.
“ But the same schools don’t provide any concession to parents in the time of crises.” Principal Burn Hall Higher Secondary School, Sebastian, admitted that they have sent messages to parents regarding fees as they have to manage the salary of teaching and non- teaching staff of the school.
“ I don’t think they ( parents) will oppose it. Some parents are coming to deposit the fee in schools as banks are not collecting it in the prevailing situation,” he said.
He however said some relaxation will be given in transportation charges but there will be no complete waiver in this.
“ We will offer some concession but won’t waive it off fully. We have to pay salary of drivers and conductors of school buses. We have to manage that.” Meanwhile, the Private Schools Association has lambasted the missionary schools for raising fee issue during the ongoing situation in Kashmir.
President, Private Schools Association, G N Var said that the association has not taken any decision regarding payment of tuition fee.
“ Right now fee is not an issue. If any one is sending messages to parents they should ignore it.
Every sector faced financial losses in the unrest. Why can’t these elite missionary schools be part of the society and manage the salary of teaching staff,” Var said.
“ Asking for fee is politically motivated and the move is backed by government so that parents will send kids to school.” He however said the association representing the economical schools have decided to waive off the fuel charges.
“ Decision regarding the relaxation in tuition fee will be taken once normalcy returns,” he said.
Director School Education Kashmir ( DSEK), Dr. Shah Faesal, said the department can’t resolve the issue in the present situation which needs proper adjudication.
“ It is a contract between the parents and private schools but we are ready to hear both the parties to resolve the issue,” he said.
