| Pvt schools compel parents to buy books, uniform from them | | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Dec 16: Most of private schools in Kishtwar and Doda districts are alleged to be forcing students' parents to buy books, uniform and other related items from them or some particular shops.
While talking to Early Times, several parents, whose children are studying in private schools, alleged that they were being forced by the school managements to purchase books and uniform form the school itsself or from some particular shops.
They have demanded action against such schools. "Such practices have converted these schools into commission houses. A parent claimed that he 'spends about Rs 30,000 per year on three sets of uniform, books, fee and printing charge for exams'.
"The school managements get huge commissions from the publishing houses," he alleged.
"Private schools have turned into money minting machines run under the nose of the concerned authorities," said Farooq Ahmad Butt, General Secretary Educational Reformation Teachers Union.
Parents have made an appeal to the government to intervene in the matter and save them from further exploitation, failing which they would be compelled to choose the path of agitation.
Students alleged that their schools did not have heating gadgets to keep them warm during winters. Some schools lacked proper toilet facilities and did not have glass panes, doors and playground, they alleged.
Sources said many schools had no fire fighting equipments and water storage tanks as prescribed in the guidelines for granting the permission of opening of a new school. "Many schools increase fee every year without taking approval from the government but underpay teachers," the sources alleged. |
|
