Jammu: In view of prevailing situation due to unsettling spike in Coronavirus cases, Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday extended the date of depositing school fees till April 30 while ordering schools to not to charge any fee for the online lectures assignments.
The order issued here on Monday by Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, principal secretary School Education Department, read that in the interest of the public at large and students and their parents in particular, it is ordered that the last date to deposit school fees is extended up to April 30 without any late fees and no school will neither charge any fee for the online lectures assignments nor link the result of the child on the basis of home assignment.
“The Management bodies of all CBSE affiliated private schools of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are directed to issue appropriate directions in this regard,” read the order.
“It has come to notice of the Government that some private schools in the J&K UT have fixed March 30 as the last date for depositing school fees and are sending various messages to students and their parents to deposit such fees immediately,” Dr Samoon said and added that it is appreciable that some private schools are giving home assignments through WhatsApp and other means while complaints have also been reported that parents are being harassed by school authorities and the teachers concerned to mandatorily submit their assignments on March 30.
“In view of existing pandemic situation, it may not be possible for students or their parents to deposit the school fees as per schedule fixed by various private schools and it is unethical to pressurize parents and students amidst prevailing circumstances to do so,” the Principal Secretary said.
He, however ordered that regarding annual school fees being charged by the private schools, Director School Education Jammu and Kashmir will after giving an opportunity of being heard to all the stakeholders including parents and private school representatives submits their recommendations to the Administrative Department within a week.
The order will apply to all private schools affiliated to any Board (CBSE/ICSE/JKBOSE/any other) functioning in UT of Jammu and Kashmir and violation reported if any shall be viewed seriously and warrant stern action under rules, the order added.
