Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 22: The Private Schools’ Association (PSA) today flagged what it termed “excessive” regulatory requirements and procedural delays, urging the Government to extend school registration validity to 10 years and simplify the compliance framework.
The concerns were raised at an Executive Council meeting of the Association held here and attended by members from across districts and presided over by founding president and patron Dr G. N. Var, along with president Bilal Ahmad Bhat and general secretary Mohd Syed Wani.
During the deliberations, members highlighted multiple challenges affecting the functioning of private schools, including what they described as an “unnecessary burden” of obtaining numerous ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs) and a lack of policy clarity.
The Council resolved to convene a large-scale school conference in the coming days to consolidate these concerns and present them before the authorities.
Addressing the meeting, Dr Var said the private education sector has played a significant role in expanding access to affordable education, particularly for economically weaker sections.
“Many students from underprivileged backgrounds are receiving free or subsidised education in private schools,” he said, adding that the sector also sustains thousands of livelihoods through teaching and non-teaching employment.
He called for a “balanced and supportive” policy environment and urged the Government to adopt a consultative approach while framing policies affecting the sector.
PSA president Bilal Ahmad Bhat reiterated the demand for extending school registration validity to at least 10 years, stating that despite repeated representations, “concrete action is still awaited.”
He also sought rationalisation of municipal taxation, arguing that a uniform tax structure places a disproportionate burden on smaller institutions.
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