Srinagar: With all the educational institutions in the Kashmir Valley shut for last nearly three months, various private schools have begun pressing parents to deposit fee for the period of unrest as well.
The schools, mostly prominent ones, have been texting parents and students asking them to deposit fee for the months of July, August and September when entire Valley remained under curfew. This has been met with shock and dismay.
Private schools on the other hand justify their demands by citing that they too need to pay their employees and teachers.
DPS, Budgam flashed an SMS on September 26 asking parents to help pay its staff.
“Dear parents, due to lack of funds, DPS Budgam staff have not been paid for 3 months. Please clear your pending dues (up to Sept 2016) by 6th Oct 2016. Fee can be paid through all branches of J&K Bank or by Cash/Chq at DPS Budgam Admin Block, KSERT College Complex, Humhama from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m”.
“I was shocked to see the SMS from the school authorities, I have not earned a penny from the last three months. For God sake tell me from where I will arrange the fee?” If they were not able to pay to their staff how do they expect us to generate this amount? questioned Nazir Ahmad Mir, an agreaved parent.
DPS Srinagar, which has been widely criticised for asking parents to pay their wards’ fee for the months of July, August and September defended its decision by saying that they too needed to pay salaries to their teachers".
“Less than 40% of our syllabus has been completed in schools. I don't understand what services they are charging us for when we haven't attended the school in 2 months. This is unfair,” said Huda Noor a student of DPS Budgam.
"Schools are paid for the services they render not when they stay shut and it is not parents who forced their closure," Naseema Chiloo another parent said.
While one certainly cannot question school authorities for thinking about the welfare of its employees, the parents say here both sides have suffered and why one party is asked to compensate for the losses of the other.
“None of us are saying that the school should not pay their teachers, but the school authorities should also realise that we ourselves are facing financial constraints right now. Even if they need to pay their teachers, the least they can do is ask us to pay for the month of July,” Suhail Iqbal told Kashmir Observer.
Dr Riyaz Tasleem said he was surprised to see a long queue at the half opened bank when he went to pay the fee for his ward studying in Presentation Convent.
“If one school is allowed to go ahead, all other schools will follow suit and start demanding fee from the parents. While some of us may be able to pay the fee of our children in today’s tough situation, what about those who cannot? What about those parents who have not earned anything in the last two months? he lamented.
Principal Green Valley Public School, Mohammad Yousf Wani said, “We have not charged any fee from the students yet as we are waiting for the decision of other schools regarding this. We will take our decision accordingly.”
When contacted Pro Vice Chairman, DPS Srinagar, Mr Vijay Dhar refused to talk on the issue.
However, Mrs. Mumtazunnisa Soz, Vice Chairperson, DPS Budgam and wife of senior Congress leader Prof Saifuddin Soz said, “We are sorry we can’t do anything because we have to provide salary to the huge staff. She however hastened to add that "If govt. can compensate us that will be better for parents and school authorities as well’’
Kashmir Observer tried to take public grievances in this regard to Education Minister, Nayeem Akthar. The minister's phone continued to ring for most part of the day Monday but he did not pick it up.
Earlier last week Directed Education Dr. Shah Fasel told Kashmir Observer: “We are discussing the issue and will take all stake holders on board and will come up with a positive solution”. This was 21st of September.
On Monday when KO again called him, Dr. Shah Faesal had no answer. "We have not yet taken any final decision". However he said, "if the school authorities have put the extra pressure on any parent he/she should approach me with a formal complaint."
All schools, like all other establishments in the Valley, have remained shut since July 2016.
KO Analysis: Demanding Fee For Curfewed Period- Obligation or Extortion?
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