Parents should register complaint with department
Srinagar, Dec 5: The Minister for Education Sakina Masood Itoo on Thursday said the School Education Department (SED) has set clear norms and regulations for the private schools for charging any kind of the fees from the parents.
The minister, however, said that highlighting complaints against private schools on social media will not invite any action from the department unless the parents files a formal complaint with evidence against the private schools who over charge the fees in violation of the norms. The minister was responding to complaints pouring in from different quarters against the private schools for overcharging annual fees along with other fees from the parents.
“We have already set rules and norms for the private schools. Now, if a parent is being robbed, I request that parent to come and file a complaint with the department. No one is above law,” the education minister told reporters.
“If the parents feel that there is any complaint against private schools, they should come and file a complaint with me or with the department. We will take action against that institution,” she said
The minister said that the department has already stated that strict action will be initiated against the private schools for violating set norms. “But if anyone goes to the media and also tries to raise the issue on social media like Facebook, that is mostly done for self promotion in the media. Criticism on social media will not work. But if you do criticism, if you prove that criticism to be correct, I assure you that I will take action against the school,” she said.
The minister asked the parents to bring proof against private schools for violating norms, strict action will be taken. “But if you register a complaint on Facebook that will not work,” she said. About the announcement of winter vacation, the education minister said it was a routine matter and will be announced this year like previous years.
“But this winter, the academic session got shifted from March to November. So we want that new classes should resume as the exams are mostly over. We also acknowledge that the weather is extremely cold and such cold was not even felt during the Chilai Kalaan period,” she said.
She said children are facing difficulties due to dry weather amid biting cold because the valley did not receive rains of snow. “We want to start classes as soon as possible and immediately announce the winter vacation for schools,” the education minister said.
