SRINAGAR The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Monday issued a notice to the management of Hat Trick Public school, Zakura, seeking an explanation over the complaints of arbitrary fee hike by the school and heavy annual charges which are collected from the students.
In response to the number of complaints of fee hike of 8 percent by the parents of the students, Joint Director School Education through a letter here to the Chairman of the school sought his personal appearance in view of the complaints by the parents that they were denied the copies of the annual charges and the fee which was fixed by the Fee Fixation Committee.
The order by the Joint Director Education noted that chairman of the school should present himself at the office of the department in Srinagar on Wednesday and warned of strict action against the school in case he fails to attend the hearing. Besides the chairman, parents association of the school has also been asked to reach the department on Wednesday.
The order said that a delegation of parents of students at Hat Trick school had approached the department with regard to redressal of their genuine grievances.
A delegation of parents had met the school authorities at the DESK and brought to their notice the violation of rules in denying them the information about the fee and annual charges which have been approved by the authorities. The notice by the Education department to the school came also in the wake of the complaints that the school was forcing the parents to buy the books from a particular shop to indulge in profiteering.
A number of parents wrote to the authorities that the monthly fee for the LKG students was Rs 3,000 and the annual charges were already Rs 7,000 and the further hike was arbitrary and unjustified.
The DSEK authorities have warned the school management of action under the J and K Education Act, 2002. They have been further asked to explain as to how they were forcing the parents to buy the books from a particular shop in the school premises.
In case of any default, strict action shall be initiated against the school management in terms of J&K Educational Act, 2002, which includes de-recognition of the school, read the order of the school education department.
The DESK has sought a break up of the fee fixation structure of the school which was approved by the Fee Fixation Committee for the last three years as well as the details of the Rs 7,000 annual charges which the parents have to shell out.
The department has asked the chairman to produce the copy of fee structure approved by the Fee Fixation Committee for the last three years. It has also asked for providing an item-wise breakup of the Rs 7,000 annual fee, which it charges from students.
It asked the management of the school to clear its position on forcing parents to buy books from the only one identified shop located in the school premises.
Many parents complained that the school was charging the hefty fee from the students. One of the complaints, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer, notes that besides the monthly fee of Rs 3,000, the parents are also paying Rs 1,700 bus fee and the further hike in the fee by 8 percent was not justified.
The complainant sought the copy of the fee structure of the Fee Fixation Committee of the Directorate of School Education to lodge a complaint about what he termed as injustice, which was denied to him.
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