‘Annual Fee to be collected by school management on pro-rata basis after schools reopen’
Chairperson committee for Fixation and Regulation Of Fee of Private Schools Jammu and Kashmir (FFRC), Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar Saturday directed the private school management to strictly adhere to the circular issued by the government in respect of charging and collection of Annual Fee.
The directions were passed after Parents Association of Private Schools of Kashmir (PAPSK) had submitted a complaint wherein they have stated that since the FFRC is continuously regulating the Fee Structure of Schools, the school authorities are misleading the parents by saying that the FFRC has fixed their Annual Fee, which means that School Managements have been allowed to charge Annual Fee for the previous academic session and in some cases for the next session.
In an order, issued by FFRC, a copy of which lies with news agency stated that it is performing its statutory function to regulate the Fee Structure of schools.
“Besides regulating the Tuition Fee, Annual fee is also being regulated. Since the schools due to COVID-19 pandemic are still closed the schools will have to abide by the orders of the Government / FFRC and collect the Tuition Fee alone, till such time schools reopen,” it reads.
The order reads that the Government vide circular No : 1 Edu of 2020, Dated: 14.05.2020 has already directed schools to charge Tuition Fee. “It is further said in the Circular/order that Annual Fee will be collected by the School Management on pro-rata basis when the schools reopen.”
It states that the FFRC in its meeting held on March 18 this year in one of its resolutions has unanimously endorsed the above said circular and Government order and it is still in force and will continue to remain in force till such time the school reopens.
“The School Managements are duty bound to abide by and faithfully follow the government Circular/Order fully endorsed by FFRC. The FFRC while regulating the Tuition Fee of the schools is simultaneously also determining and fixing Annual Fee of the Schools. Such fixation, determination and regulation of Annual Fee does not ipso-facto mean that School authorities are authorized to charge and collect the Annual Fee,” it reads.
It further states that this clarification has necessitated because of the complaints made against some school managements, wherein some parents have been asked to pay the Annual Fee by showing them the orders of FFRC.
“The FFRC orders in respect of Annual Fee will take effect as and when schools reopen. It is accordingly directed that all school managements shall strictly adhere to circular No. 1 Edu of 2020, Dated: 14.05.2020 issued by government in respect of charging and collection of Annual Fee, which means that only after the schools reopen Annual Fee can be charged on pro-rata basis as per the orders passed by FFRC,” it reads.
