FFRC warns private schools to refrain from imposing "unjustified burden" on parents

Srinagar, Aug 5: Amid the complaints, the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) has once again warned the private schools to refrain from charging a security deposit or admission from parents at the time of the admissions.

The committee said that charging a security deposit or admission fee was a clear violation of the fee regulation.

As per the fresh circular issued by the Chairman FFRC Justice (retd) Sunil Hali, complaints continue to pour in from parents that some private schools were repeatedly charging security deposit from the parents at the time of the admission of their ward, ostensibly in lieu of Admission fee.

"This practice is arbitrary and is viewed as an indirect attempt to circumvent the statutory provisions of the fee regulatory mechanism established under law," the fresh FFRC circular reads.

The fresh circular has been issued at a time when the new admission session is likely to commence from September-October month for admissions in kindergarten classes.

Despite a complete ban on charging capitation fees or donations from parents, some schools, in violation of the FFRC orders, demand donations from the parents, exposing lax implementation of the repeated circulars and orders issued by the competent authorities.

Such practice of private schools has already been termed as "money laundering" by the FFRC through its circulars issued from time to time.

FFRC while referring to the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002, particularly section 20 (C) says that collection of any fees or charges by private schools without prior approval from the FFRC is prohibited.

"Furthermore, under Rule 8(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Private Schools (Fixation, Determination and Regulation of Fees) Rules, 2022, no school shall collect any amount other than the tuition and the annual fees as approved by the Committee," the circular reads.

The heads of all private educational institutions operating in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have been asked to adhere strictly to the approved fee structure and refrain from imposing any unjustified financial burden on parents.

The FFRC chairman has further urged the parents who have already deposited any amount under the title of Security deposit or any other unapproved fee head to come forward and lodge a formal complaint before the committee. "The identity of the complainant will be kept strictly confidential," the circular reads.