Keep the official circular in pocket
SRINAGAR: Leave aside the Private Schools, now Government monitored Waqaf Schools have started fleecing the flood hit people of Kashmir and are forcing parents to deposit fees for the months of September and October, which were waived off by the court in view of the floods during those two months in the Valley.
A delegation of parents from Sultan-ul-Arifeen Higher Secondary School Makhdoom Sahab said that school principal Wednesday forced them to clear the dues of September and October threatening their wards would not be allowed to sit in the classes otherwise.
There are clear cut directions from the Court in this regard and yet the school authorities demand fee from them for the month of September and October, Showkat Hussain a parent said.
He said the parents had no option but paid the fee for the two months along with the bus charge. I paid Rs 2360 for these two months while other parents tried to stage a protest but of no avail.
Majority of the schools in Kashmir have reportedly violated the court orders and collected fee from the flood hit people for the month of September and October. A circular in this regard was issued by Directorate of School Education directing schools not to demand fee from parents for the month of September and October and yet the school authorities collected the fee.
A parent Bashir Ahmed Wani of Radio Colony Ikhrajpora despite showing the official communique to Principal Model High School Jawahar Nagar paid the fee of his 9th class boy Farhan Bashir when the school authorities asked him to keep the official communique in pocket.
I went to Director Education who asked me to show the circular vide number DSEK/GS/Misc/2015 to the Principal Model High School. I did the same but the Principal asked me to keep the circular in pocket and pay the fee of the child, Bashir Ahmed said.
Delhi Public School, Budgam too has forced parents to pay for the months of September and October 2014 making it pre-condition for releasing results.
Pertinently, the court, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), had directed the schools in Kashmir not to charge any fees from the students in view of the devastating floods that hit the Valley in September last year.
Director Education Showkat Ahmed Beigh said that these school owners have been unnecessarily creating problems for the parents. I appeal all the parents to contact me immediately if any school forces them to pay fee for the month of September and October, he siad.
Sameer Ahmad reports from Anantnag:– Hundreds of parents of students belonging to different private schools of Anantnag district today staged protests against violation of High Court orders by these schools.
They alleged that the schools were forcing students to deposit fees for the months of September and October, which were waived off by the court in view of the floods during those two months in the Valley.
Protests were witnessed outside several schools in Anantnag and they alleged that the schools were forcing them to clear the dues of September and October, otherwise their wards would not be allowed to sit in the classes. There are clear cut directions from the Court in this regard and yet the school authorities demand fee from them for the month of September and October, Sartaj Ahmad Wani, a protester said.
Radiant Public school, EFF EMM School and Sidra public School in Anantnag besides several others have threatened students with late fee if they do not clear the Sep and Oct dues immediately.
Pertinently, the court, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), had directed the schools in Kashmir not to charge any fees from the students in view of the devastating floods that hit the Valley in September last year. We fail to understand why any action is not being initiated against these school which violate the court orders and even did not adhere to the guidelines of Education Department, the parents said.
Talking to the Kashmir Observer CEO Anantnag said that we have received written complaints against these schools and we will take action in this regard very soon.
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