STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: J and K Private Schools Association (PSA) on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to remove the bottlenecks including cumbersome formalities for private schools while obtaining recognition and affiliation which are hampering the smooth functioning of these educational institutions.
The Executive members of central body of J&K Private Schools Association had an appointment on the office of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. In this regard, the Officer on Special Duty had a detailed discussion with a deputation of PSA on the burning issues of private schools especially interference of Government in fixing the fee, conduct of exams from classes 5th to 7th, 9th and 11th by SIE, imposition of commercial laws, labour laws, etc.
The deputation apprised the Officer on Special Duty that Private schools are being run by three types of people viz one is business class, second is government employee who are running Private Schools as 2nd source of income and third one is the most miserable class i.e. unemployed youth who have generated employment for themselves besides employing educated jobless of their locality. They said that the people of third category are the worse sufferer and government should provide them assistance in the form of land on the cheaper rates and bank loans.
Upon this, the Officer on Special Duty immediately discussed the matter with Chief Minister, who as reported readily agreed to redress the problems in the couple of days. He said as regard to the recognition / affiliation, labour laws and other formalities viz building safety, chemical safety, etc. all these parameters have been put in single window clearance within a minimum period of five years. He also disclosed that Fee Fixing Committee (FFC) was formed on the direction of High Court of J&K. “Moreover government is considering for an alternate for fee fixation as done by the neighbouring States by allowing the private schools to increase the fee between 5 per cent and 10 per cent annually. “Anybody who is desirous for higher fee should approach Fee Fixation Committee”, he added.
He also disclosed that government has given free hand to open the schools upto class 5th without any recognition / permission by any authority by providing adequate infrastructure. For counter signature / confirmation of result, he assured that this will be done online within a couple of days.
The deputation was accompanied by Prof. J.L Kotwal Chairman J&K PSA, Kamal Gupta President J&K PSA, Rameshwar Mengi (Vice President), Ajay Gupta General Secretary J&K PSA, Siddeshwar Sadotra and Ram Mohammad.
