| Openly selling uniforms, stationary to students; DSE mum | | Private schools turn into shops | | Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 3: Bringing disrepute to the noble profession, most of the private schools across Jammu region have virtually turned into shops, openly selling uniforms, stationary beside other items to students that too at exorbitant rates but Director School Education Jammu has so far adopted a cryptic silence over the issue, due to reasons best known to them.
Apart from charging huge fee, the private schools administration have been engaged in practice of selling uniforms, stationary, books, notebooks, beside other articles required for various activities to students for the last many years under the nose of authorities.
"It's known to everyone that these private school administration charged exorbitant rates from students but issue never came to limelight due to alleged involvement of some officials of Education department in this trade", Prem Singh of Satwari alleged.
He further said that even if the students desired to purchase uniform from open market, the school administration refused to accept that uniform. "On the name of various co-curricular activities, huge fee is charged by private school administration and in this way, students have been looted but none dared to raise voice", he said.
Another one said that majority of parents seldom complaint with the school administration, apprehending humiliation to their ward. "Many a times, complaints were lodged with Directorate of School Education Jammu but for no avail", he said, alleging that it only signaled towards the open nexus between the officials and administration of private schools.
"Some school administrations are of the habit of replacing the uniforms after every two years and if some student objects over it, threat of rustication looms over him and has to encounter humiliation", another person said and asserted that officials right from Directorate, Chief Education Officers beside others were aware of the issue, but all have turned a blind eye, owing to their involvement in the business activity.
"The management of private schools is also very powerful and has direct links with bureaucrats and are also financer of politicians, so their interests are always taken care of by officials of Education department", they alleged.
An official of Directorate of School Education pleading anonymity said that time and again the office had received complaints but cognizance of the issue was never taken by officials, due to reasons best known to them. |
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