Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 5: The Directorate of School Education, Kashmir (DSEK), has taken serious note of complaints regarding textbooks prescribed by private schools in violation of established norms.
In a series of meetings with private school heads and parents, Director of School Education Dr. G.N. Itoo emphasized the need for all private schools to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations prescribed by the Department regarding textbook selection.
At the same time, the schools have been directed to upload details of the prescribed textbooks on their websites within three days.
These meetings were convened following complaints from various quarters about tuition fee hikes exceeding the approvals granted by the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) and the prescription of textbooks contrary to departmental guidelines.
DSEK directed private schools to comply fully with existing guidelines and to ensure that tuition fees are collected strictly as per FFRC approvals.
To ensure effective implementation of these directives, DSEK convened another meeting with senior departmental officers, during which district-level monitoring committees were established to oversee compliance.
The meeting was attended by Joint Director of Elementary Education Mohammad Mushtaq, Chief Education Officer Srinagar Shabina Kyser, and other departmental officers.
Dr. Itoo instructed all Chief Education Officers in Kashmir Division to enforce the rules governing private school operations and to regularly monitor and report on compliance through the newly formed committees.
The Parents’ Association, led by Khursheed Khoja, confirmed that the meeting, held late yesterday, was attended by several officers and parents representing various schools.
During the meeting, parents raised concerns about additional textbooks prescribed by schools affiliated with JKBOSE, issues surrounding unauthorized affiliations with CBSE or Cambridge boards, and the lack of proper consultation with parents or requisite NOCs from the Directorate.
Parents also highlighted discrepancies in fee collection. They pointed out that annual fees had been collected up to March 2025, even though the academic session ended in November-December.
They demanded that annual fees for the upcoming year be charged on a pro-rata basis.
Additionally, parents raised concerns about extra fees being charged by schools without FFRC approval and requested the creation and formal recognition of parent associations within private schools, with representation from parents of enrolled students.
“The Director, along with the Chief Education Officer and other officials present, listened attentively to our concerns, noted them, and assured us that strict action would be taken against violators,” the association said.
It added that appropriate orders will be issued soon to address the issues raised and provide relief to concerned parents.
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