Srinagar, DEC 23: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) issued a ban on schools charging capitation fees and conducting interviews or screenings during the admission process. The directive aims to ensure compliance with Section 13 of the Right to Education Act 2009, which prohibits the collection of capitation fees and subjecting students or their parents to screening procedures during admissions.
The official circular from the Director of School Education Kashmir highlights that any school or person found violating these provisions may face penalties. Those receiving capitation fees could be fined up to ten times the amount charged, while those subjecting children to screening procedures may be fined up to twenty-five thousand rupees for the first contravention and fifty thousand rupees for subsequent violations.
The circular defines capitation fee as any form of donation, admission fee, contribution, or payment other than the fee officially notified by the school. It also notes a surge in complaints from parents and civil society regarding the demand for admission fees by private schools, emphasizing that such practices are illegal and punishable.
Private recognized schools in the Kashmir division are urged to refrain from charging capitation fees and other non-notified fees, as well as from conducting screening procedures or interviews during admissions. The circular warns that any deviation from these guidelines may lead to action, including the cancellation of the school’s registration.
To ensure the effective implementation of these instructions, Chief Education Officers are appointed as nodal officers in their respective jurisdictions, with Joint Directors, Cluster Heads, and Zonal Education Officers tasked with monitoring compliance in their areas. The directive aims to uphold the principles of fair and accessible education for all students in the region.
