The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR - The Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools (FFRC) in Jammu and Kashmir has issued a stern circular addressing complaints about private schools in the UT charging unauthorized admission fees. This violation allegedly occurs during the commencement of the new academic session, prompting concerns over improper fee collection practices.

The circular, numbered FFRC/Adm/14/2023 and dated 22nd December 2023, highlights the alleged charging of admission fees by private schools in defiance of statutory regulations.

It is reported that numerous schools have been collecting admission fees, mostly in cash, and allegedly failing to issue receipts for the same. Such actions are in contravention of Section 20E (1) of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act 2002, which strictly limits fee collection by private schools to tuition fees, annual fees, transport fees, and voluntary special-purpose fees, excluding admission fees.

In response to these reported infractions, the FFRC has issued specific instructions to all private schools in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir:

1. Cease Unlawful Admission Fee Collection: Schools are directed to refrain from charging admission fees that breach statutory provisions.
2. Accountability for Violations: In cases where complaints are substantiated against any private school for charging unauthorized admission fees, the school management will be held accountable for such actions. Legal repercussions will follow.
3. CBI Inquiry for Verification: If a school denies charging admission fees but evidence suggests otherwise, the matter will be referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation. Adverse findings may result in severe consequences, including derecognition or disaffiliation.

Signed by Justice Sunil Hali, Chairperson of the Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools in Jammu and Kashmir, the circular serves as a strict warning to private schools flouting fee regulations.

The circular has been disseminated to various key entities, including the J&K Board of School Education, Directors of School Education in Kashmir and Jammu, and the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department. Furthermore, the FFRC has requested leading newspapers in the region, such as Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Daily Excelsior, State Times, Amar Ujala, Tameel e Irshad, Daily Aftab, Mountain Valley Kashmir, Kashmir Horizon, Nigran, and Rangyul, to publish the circular for wider public awareness.

The Committee's decisive action aims to curb unauthorized fee collection practices in private schools and ensure compliance with legal statutes, prioritizing fair and regulated educational fees for students in the region.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools (FFRC) on Wednesday directed all schools in the valley not to charge annual fees for the period from November 2022 to March 2023 following the change of academic calendar by the government.

Management of all the private schools "are restrained from charging and collecting annual fee for the period November 2022 to March 2023. Any breach of this order will result in initiating action according to law," FFRC chairman Justice (retd) M H Attar said in an order.

The FFRC order was issued in response to Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson School, and two other affiliate institutions, asking parents to pay an annual fee for the five-month period as the current academic session had been extended by virtue of the government order.

The Jammu and Kashmir State Board of Education used to conduct annual examinations for classes 10, 11, and 12 for students hailing from Kashmir and some parts of Jammu region in the months of October and November. However, a government order last month aligned the academic calendar of all schools in the Union territory with the rest of the country.

The FFRC directive said that during an interaction with the management of these four schools, it was made clear to the schools that in view of the government order, the new admissions will commence from the month of March of the calendar year.

"It was thus impressed upon these authorities that the school managements' notice to the students to pay annual fee for the months of November 2022 to March 2023 is legally not sustainable and the authorities in these circumstances should withdraw the notice," it said.

"It was made clear to the authorities of this school management that academic session cannot be stretched beyond 12 months period, which now starts from 1st April and ends on 31 March of the calendar year. The period of five months commencing from November 2022 to March 2023 being not part of the academic session, the students cannot be asked to pay the annual fee for the period,” it added.

SRINAGAR — The Government Fee Fixation Committee (GFFC) has approved the hike in transport fees by 14 per cent for private schools in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions. The committee, however, said that the hike would be applicable from March 2022.

According to the news agency KNO, the committee has said that the information provided by various stakeholders shows a huge yawning gap between the transport fee charged in urban, rural and village areas. “It has been brought to the notice of the FFRC that a school in a rural area is charging Rs 600 per month for distance of 0-4km, while another school is charging Rs 600 for 0-8km and yet another school is charging Rs 700 for 0-7km,” reads the orders of the committee.

The committee, however, said some schools in urban areas are charging transport or bus fee up to Rs 2,000 per month and in a few cases, above Rs 2,000. “There is a difference in the salary component of Drivers and Helpers of the schools located in urban and rural areas,” it reads.

The committee further said that since the majority of the items and expenses of transport are the same and similar in almost all the schools, thus, they constitute one class.

“The FFRC after considering all the relevant aspects and after giving thoughtful consideration to the representations made and material provided by the stakeholders and in tune with statutory prescriptions has resolved that it would be appropriate to allow a hike in transport or bus fee in all the schools in the manner decided by the committee,” it reads.

“The schools in the winter zone shall be entitled to a hike of 14 per cent in the Transport or Bus Fee, which the schools in the winter zone were charging and collecting in the month of October 2019,” reads the order.

It also states that the schools in the summer zone shall be entitled to a hike of 14 per cent in the transport or bus fee, which the schools in the summer zone were charging and collecting in the month of February 2020.
The fee fixation committee further said that the transport or bus fee hike shall be applicable from March 2022 in both the zones viz; Winter Zone and Summer Zone, when the schools resumed physical classwork after the lockdown.

It also said that the schools whose transport or bus fee by the afore-stated hike crosses Rs 2,000 shall be entitled to charge and collect only Rs 2,000 and the aforementioned hike shall restrict the upper limits of bus fee hike to Rs 2,000. “All the schools shall faithfully and honestly follow the decision of the FFRC and implement the same in letter and spirit.”

The committee said that any school management who in the peculiar circumstances of the school needs bus fee beyond Rs 2,000 shall have to submit its proposal to FFRC along with relevant documents with proper justification, to enable it to take a decision thereon in accordance with the law.