Fees fixation in
Pvt Schools
Sir,
This refers to a
news item "Shafi ask private schools to fix
fees" published in DE dated July 8.
I would like to
suggest following measures to the Minister for
Education Mr. Mohd Shafi which shall bring
transparency in the functioning of Private
Schools in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mushroom growth of
private schools in both Urban and Rural areas
necessitate to classify them in the following
categories. All the private schools having 15
years of establishment should be brought under
the category "A" Such Institutions can
have better facilities like furniture,
laboratory, library, play ground, drinking water
facility, electricity games and sports articles
besides efficient and qualified teaching teaching
staff. The Institutions having 10 years of their
establishment should be brought under category
"B" those having 5 years of existence
under category "C" and less then 5
years of establishment under category
"D". So far as the fixing of fee
structure is concerned, District School Committee
should be constituted with Chief Education
Officer as its Chairman to fix the fees for all
the primary, middle and high schools of the
district concerned. It should be a 9 ( nine
members) committee including its Chairman. Half
the members of such commitee should be selected
from retired principals of HSS or retired
Headmasters/mistresses who are interested in
education. Rest of the members be from in service
officers (Principal, ZEO, HM etc). It will also
help in strengthening the relation between school
and the community and administration of Education
Department, Distt. Education Committee may be
given the necessary powers to inspect the
Institution which receive govt. aid.
Fees for all the
Higher secondary schools of state shall be fixed
by the State Education Committee with Director
School Education Jammu/Srinagar as its chairman.
Its consitution should be same as that of Distt.
Edu. Committee except for its members, persons of
rank not below than Chief Education Officer,
Joint Director, Principals of Govt. Degree
College (All retired officers) and in service
officer may be included in the state Edu.
Committee. Fixation of fee should be for a
minimum of 2 years only and after that
reconstitution of committee is essential.
Moreover, to
contain illegal practices like charging excess
fee dues from the students, its should be
mandatory for all private Institutions to install
fee Board in their respective school office and
proper receipt be given for the dues paid by the
parents/students to school administration.
Regarding the recognition period, "A"
category Institution be given recognition for
three years only when it fulfills certain minimum
conditions and comply with the rules. And B &
C category Institutions be granted recognition
for two years and for "D" category it
should be for one year. The advice or opinion of
State Education Committee or Distt Education
Committee can be sought while granting
recognition (or derecognising) to a Institution.
I am fully
confident that if above measures are adopted this
will surely improve the functioning of private
schools and bring transparency in their
functioning.
Yours etc.....
Lalit Sharma,
Govt. Higher Secondary
School Basholi.
|
