Bhat Yasir
Violating the guidelines and laws in broad daylight, a private school in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district is compelling the parents to pay the bus fare for lockdown period, guardians say.
In a complaint addressed to Sub Divisional Magistrate, Pattan and Zonal Education Officer, Nehalpora filled by parents/guardians through Sajad Ahmad (guardian), they have alleged that one private school namely Little Buds Public School, Palpora, Pattan is compelling them to pay bus fare for lockdown period of COVID-19.
In the complaint, the parents alleged that they (parents) are being compelled to pay fee from November 2020, although they have admitted their wards to the school in March 2021.
“That in the month of March 2021 some of the parents had admitted their kids in the said school wherein the aforesaid school has charged us fee from the month of Nov 2020 which is illegal and unacceptable,” the complaint letter reads, whose copy lies with The Kashmiriyat.
“Secondly, the same management is compelling us to submit the bus fare of past months despite continuous lockdown and schools were off due to second wave of COVID-19,” it reads.
“After we filed the complaint, rather than addressing the grievance, the school authorities are intimidating us,” a parent, Tawseef Ahmad, told The Kashmiriyat.
“In November 2020, our child didn’t even know there is a school called Little buds Public school,” he said, also adding, “In March 2021, he (ward) saw the school, but unfortunately the school management is charging fee from November last year.”
“When we complained about this, they told us to cancel admission and we don’t have time for these matters,” Tawseef alleged.
Another guardian, Aijaz Ahmad, while appealing the administrative officials for their intervention said, “We appeal to the DC Baramulla and CEO Baramulla to initiate action against this school as they are charging bus fare, which is illegal”.
Zonal Education Officer, Nehalpora upon being contacted by The Kashmiriyat said that the investigation into the matter is going on. “Tomorrow I’m going to visit the school along with the complainee parents and will try to sort out the issue,” he said.
Denying the allegations, the principal of Little Buds Public School Palpora Pattan said that no parent has ever been asked to pay any extra fees. “The students have to charge bus fees for the month of March,” she told The Kashmiriyat over the phone.
According to reports the private schools are not permitted to charge the transport fare till the Fee Fixation Committee takes any decision regarding the matter.
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