With FFRC headless, parents left high and dry

Srinagar, March 20: With the reopening of schools, a number of parents are in dilemma as the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) continues to remain headless.
For the session 2023-24, the private schools have started the admissions of kindergarten. Scores of parents complained that in absence of the Fee Fixation Committee, various private schools are taking parents for a ride.
In addition to demanding an annual charge for the months that were extended due to the March session, such schools have also hiked the fees at their own will. Also, many have been collecting hefty amounts in the name of admission fees.
A parent said, “Parents are at the receiving end in absence of the Fee Fixation Committee. Despite having the orders by FFRC and Director, School Education in place, schools are demanding annual charges of the months that were extended because of the session shift.”
In the month of November last year, the order issued by the J&K Committee for Fixation and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools (FFRC) directed all schools in the valley not to charge annual fees for the period from November 2022 to March 2023 following the change of academic calendar by the government.
A week ago, director, school education Kashmir, Tasaduq Hussain had also informed parents to submit their grievances, pertaining to the matter of annual charges, to the offices of the school education department.
Foziya, another parent, said that the FFRC being headless at the time when the session is starting has created confusion. “Schools are also demanding fees for January to March months from class 10th and 12th students who have logically left the school. It’s because there is no one to look at these matters.
The FFRC is headless since the tenure of its chairman ended on November 13 last year and the defunct committee has left the parents high and dry.
Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary to Education while talking about the annual fees said the order of FFRC holds good. “There is no change there. The school cannot go for the hike on their own.”
About the appointment of the chairman of FFRC he said, “The government is looking after the matter and shortly the chairman will be appointed.”