Fees to private schools can be paid till April 30: Govt

Fees to private schools can be paid till April 30: Govt

Srinagar: Amid the Covid-19 lockdown, the School Education Department on Monday said that parents of students enrolled at private schools in Jammu and Kashmir can deposit their wards’ fees by April 30.
An order issued by Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Asgar Hassan Samoon said that there had been complaints against many schools that they were forcing parents to deposit the fees by March 30. The order mentioned that parents were being harassed by school authorities over the matter.
It would be “unethical to pressurize parents and students” under the prevailing circumstances, the order said.
The private schools have been directed to extend the date of depositing the fee without any late charges.
Pertinently, two private schools’ associations in J&K on Sunday had also asked the schools to defer collection of fees in view of the prevailing all-India lockdown.
Monday’s order by the government, however, did not go down well with several parents, who said the schools should not charge fees for the period when the schools are shut.
Faiz Mohammad Wangnoo, a Srinagar resident, questioned the collection of fees at a time “when people are suffering badly”.
Wangnoo said that there were parents who were not even able to fulfil their basic needs at the moment.
Bilal Ahmad Mir, another parent, demanded that the fees be waived off for the lockdown period.
The School Education Department has also asked private schools to desist from fee hikes amid the ongoing lockdown.
“In this hour of crisis, private schools across J&K to desist from any fees hikes from parents/ kids,” Principal Secretary Dr Asgar Hassan wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
Samoon further said that all government school teachers in Jammu and Kashmir can give two-month advance Mid Day Meal dry rations to the kids’ families.

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