JKUPSA delegation meets Secy School Education

Srinagar, Nov 1: A delegation of the Jammu Kashmir Unaided Private Schools Association (JKUPSA), led by its President Showkat Chowdhary met Ram Niwas Sharma, Secretary, J&K School Education Department to discuss several long-pending issues affecting private schools across the Union Territory.

The delegation comprised Iqbal Beigh, Suhail Jan and Javaid Iqbal, along with representatives from some private schools. From the government side, the meeting was attended by Ghulam Rasool Mir, Special Secretary, School Education; Syed Ahmad Kataria, Additional Secretary, School Education; Kulbhushan Kumar, Director Finance (SED); Joint Secretary, JKBOSE and Iqbal Hussain, Personal Officer, School Education Department.

The JKUPSA delegation strongly reiterated its long-standing demand for the introduction of a One-Time Registration Certificate for private schools, instead of the existing system of renewal every five years, said a press release.  The association emphasised that repetitive renewals create unnecessary administrative hurdles and delay the smooth functioning of educational institutions.

“The present system of periodic renewal causes avoidable inconvenience to hundreds of schools and should be replaced by a one-time registration model for greater efficiency and transparency,” the delegation submitted.

The delegation also expressed serious concern over the 10-year lease agreement condition imposed under SO 177, calling it impractical and unrealistic in the local context.

Ram Niwas Sharma assured the delegation that the issues discussed were genuine and would be carefully examined for a practical resolution. “The department will explore a balanced and workable way forward,” Sharma said.