STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Expressing concern over the policies and number of challenges posed by the State Government to discourage the initiatives of marginal profit earning unaided private schools which are working for the welfare of mankind, Private Schools Association (PSA) urged the helmsmen to shun the negative approach and help these institutions to shoulder the responsibility of spreading education to every nook and corner of the region.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, Chairman PSA Prof. J.L Kotwal said that education today has become a mean of cheap politics.
To overcome the chronic ailment, he said that members of private schools presented number of memorandums to the higher officials of the concerned departments but issuing draconian orders to discourage the unaided private schools has become fashion by the successive state governments.
President PSA, Kamal Gupta demanded exemption of private schools from review of policy of ‘No Detention’ up to elementary level.
“Private schools functioning in the State are already adopting all the parameters fixed for promotion and detention from class 6th to 9th as per CCES which is visible from the guidelines issued from time to time since 1993”, he said adding that interference by any agency in conducting exams from classes 5th to 9th will hamper the day to day working of the private schools. He demanded that schools functioning since decades should be exempted from tedious formalities including NOCs concerning building safety, chemical safety, fire safety, registration in Labour Department, etc for obtaining recognition/ affiliation. “Such formalities should be demanded only from new private schools or the schools functioning in rented/ hired buildings,” he added.
“The conditions which are imposed on unaided private schools should also be made mandatory for the government schools, tutorials, tuition centers, coaching centers, hobby centers, etc”, he said adding that before fixing the fee of unaided private schools authorities should fix the fee of tutorials, tuition centers, coaching centers, hobby centers, etc as these centers charge ransom amount although the nature of work is similar in both the cases.
He also sought permission to independently form the academic calendar for effective teaching-learning process.
Claiming that rules made by the Government as per section 29 of School Regulator/ Act 2002 in the SRO 123 are discriminatory for the private schools only, forgetting that the rules in same SRO are applicable for Government schools, ETT and NTT, the PSA sought amendment in this SRO after thorough consultation with the stake holders. “The infrastructure required for running Private schools should be as per SSA and RMSA norms and for that the schools should be given loans at subsidised rates and sufficient time should be given to expand the infrastructure as is being done in the government sector”, the PSA demanded. It also sought granting of permanent recognition to the institutions which have completed 10 or more than 10 years in respect of the recognition policy.
“Dispose all pending files up to classes 5th and 8th which are lying pending since 2010 as per the new criteria fixed by the government to grant permission / affiliation /recognition” PSA members said adding that close all private schools immediately which are functioning without infrastructure and authentic recognition.
Issue biometric Pehchan cards as early as possible in favour of registered workers in ESIC department so that aggrieved contributory can get the benefit of ESIC department without any delay, the PSA further demanded.
The members appealed to the Chief Minister for immediate intervention to redress the grievances of unaided private schools.
Rameshwar Mengi Vice President, Ajay Gupta General Secretary cum State Coordinator, Sanjeev Luthra, Lal Chand, Ram Mohammad, Vivek Chouhan (Jammu), K.K Langar (Rajouri), Siddheshwar Sadotra, Ram Parkash Udhampur, Gansara Singh, Laddi Sharma Katra, G.S Katal and Sat Pal Mansotra Kathua were also present.
