Will take call to extend summer vacation if any weather advisory is issued: DSEK

Srinagar, July 10: Director School Education Kashmir, Tasaduq Hussain Mir Wednesday said that the decision to extend the summer vacation for schools would depend on the advisory issued by the Meteorological Department (MeT).

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Kothi Bagh Higher Secondary School, Mir said that the department was observing the ground conditions and the prevailing weather in Kashmir.

“We will be in touch with the weather department and take a call to extend the summer vacation of schools in case any such advisory is issued,” he said.

All the government and private recognised schools up to class 12th have been closed for summer vacations in Kashmir.

The summer vacation commenced on July 8 and would end on July 17.

Meanwhile, about the complaints pouring in against private schools for giving an arbitrary hike in the tuition fees of the students, DSEK said the issues have already come to the notice of the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) and all the complaints are being analysed as well.

“A few days ago, FFRC convened a meeting and the minutes of the meeting have been finalised as well. I have signed the minutes of the meeting which will be shared with the Chairman of FFRC,” he said.

Mir said that the FFRC which was the regulatory body for private schools had received lots of complaints against some private schools.

“Action will be initiated against such schools. In case of any minor complaints, a fine will be imposed on the erring schools and we will derecognise the private school if any major violation is found on the part of the school,” DSEK told reporters.

Earlier, the FFRC directed the private schools to submit their files for fixation of the school fee structure of their institutions.

The FFRC warned the schools that it would recommend to the appropriate authority to bar the private school from taking any new admission for the next academic year or to impose a fine equivalent to 10 percent of total revenue generated by the private school or society in the preceding year in case the schools fail to submit the documents.

Chairman FFRC Justice Sunil Hali, a former judge, in an order issued, said that most of the schools had failed to submit their files for fixation and regulation of fees to date and were charging fees from parents in violation of statute and orders of the committee issued from time to time.

Chairman FFRC directed the schools that the documents must reach the office by or before July 25, 2024.