Bhat Imran
Srinagar, Mar 14 : The School Education Department on Monday said that it will cancel the registration of those private schools that flouts the transportation guidelines or were disallowing desirous students to avail the facility.
The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) said that with the reopening of schools after the winter break 2021-22, various complaints were received that the management of various educational institutions and schools are not providing transport facilities to the students as was being provided earlier.
The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that the Senior Superintendent of Police—Traffic Srinagar has also reported that the parents are using their private vehicles to pick and drop their kids to the schools as a result of which a huge number of such vehicles are parked outside the school premises causing congestion and obstruction to the smooth flow of traffic.
“It is also alleged that the private schools are demanding payment of advance transport fee either for full session or 50 percent of total transport fee and the schools also seek an undertaking from the parents regarding advance payment of transport fee,” DSEK said.
It also said that the Committee for Fixation and Regulation of fee of Private Schools has already issued an order to all the school managements of private schools.
“There should be an increase of 12 percent in transport fee which was being paid by the students availing the transport facility in October-2019” DSEK said.
Quoting the orders of FFRC, the DSEK said, “This hike will be operative from the date of reopening of schools after winter break; besides no private school shall seek any undertaking front parent or the students for advance tuition fee and transport fee. Moreover the parents are at liberty to pay the fee monthly or quarterly.”
DSEK impressed upon all the administrators of private schools to adhere to the instructions in letter and spirit. “The school management shall ensure availability of transport facility to the all desirous students and the instructions issued by the FFRC shall be strictly adhered to.”
DSEK also said that in ease of any deviation, strict action as warranted under provisions of law shall he initiated against the particular school which may include de-recognition of the school and suspension of affiliation with respective boards Viz JKBOSE and CBSE—(KNO)
