Denial of financial autonomy will crush private education sector: JCPS

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 2: Joint Committee of Private Schools (JCPS) today termed the recent Government order on fee fixation as another act of destabilizing private education sector, especially the budget schools.
The Committee expressed its shock at the Government decision and said that Instead of rewarding the Private Schools for their contribution in providing the quality educations, the Government was hell-bent to derail the education system of this ill-fated State.
“During nineties, when all the Government schools became non-functional, it were the private schools, which worked hard day and night, and invested their blood and sweat to keep the torch of education burning in the Valley,” JCPS said.
“As per Govt order dated 2006, schools were enhancing fee by 10 percent annually. However in the backdrop of 2014 floods the then Govt revoked this order and assured us that a comprehensive education policy will be framed with a provision of revision of fee structure so that the schools started in nineties would also get an opportunity to upgrade their educational standard ,” said Mushtaq Canny, Chairman Joint Committee of Private Schools . “We are still waiting for that policy. In 2017 Govt allowed us 8 percent fee hike annually however because of an ambiguous order from FFC (Fee Fixation Committee) the Committee sought clear directions. Due to fall of Government, it took time and now the Govt has come up with 6 percent hike which is a cruel joke for budget Pvt Schools, as we can’t meet the market inflation and can’t revise the salary to our poor and hardworking staff, in the backdrop of 7th pay commission,” he added.
The Committee said that most of the schools are under the financial burden and they have been waiting for education policy and resumption of 2006 Government order, in order to gain stability. “During these few years of instability the schools survived only because of admission fee and this admission fee is our backbone. If the Government removes it, anybody can guess what will happen next,” said Mushtaq Canny and added that in the year 2015-2016, 152 private schools were closed because of financial constraints.