Kashmir private schools body says 6 pc hike meagre, ‘unviable’ to run schools without admission fee

Srinagar: Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) on Friday termed the government decision to allow a “meagre” six percent fee hike annually as “too late and too little”.

The Association in a statement also expressed its shock at the government decision to stop private schools from charging one time admission fee from students as the same will crush the private sector and hurt the growth of education sector in a big way.
It said said that the six percent fee hike is nothing when compared to the rise of prices in the market. “As per government order dated 2006 schools were enhancing fee by 10% annually. However in the backdrop of 2014 floods the then government revoked this order and assured us that a comprehensive education policy will be framed,” said G N Var, Chairman PSAJK. “We are still waiting for that policy. In 2017 Govt allowed us 8% fee hike annually however because of an ambiguous order from FFC (Fee Fixation Committee) the Association sought clear directions. Due to fall of government it took time and now the government has allowed us 6% hike which is too less as we can’t meet the market inflation and can’t pay 10% salary hike to our staff.”
The Association said that the FFC should have followed all India model, wherein 8-15 % fee hike is allowed. “We want Govt to allow us charge 10% annually as per Govt order of 2006 and also one time admission fee as is the norm,” said Var.
The franchise of well reputed schools has also put heavy pressure on many of their schools as they are forced to invest more to compete with them by investing more, Var said. “Branded schools have 3 to 4 times more fee than most of our schools. If 10 % fee hike and the admission fee is denied to us, our students won’t be able to compete with rest of world. It will be a collective loss for society,” he said.
They school body said that most of the schools are under the financial burden and they have been waiting for education policy and resumption of 2006 government order in order to gain stability. “During these few years of instability the schools survived only because of admission fee and this admission fee is our backbone. If the government removes it, anybody can guess what will happen next,” said Var. “Maybe schools will have to down shutters as it will become unviable to run a school with so many curbs.”