JKPSCC and PSAJK asks schools in Jammu to defer collection of fee form students

Welcomes govt order to give 2 months dry midday meal to students

Jammu, March 29: Taking cognisance of reports about several schools in Jammu forcing students to submit fee in the current situation, the Jammu and Kashmir Private Schools Coordination Committee (JKPSCC) and Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has asked all schools to refrain from collecting any fee from students during the current testing times.

Both the organisations said that the current situation presents a huge challenge for the entire society and our priority should be to ease the situation and not create any kind of hurdles. “As of now we are dealing with a grave situation that directly affects our well-being. In this situation life takes precedence on any other matter,” said G N Var and Rameshwar Manhas in a joint statement. “This is not the time to do any kind of business or overload already suffering population with any new expenses. Our motive should be to help people and not the other way. Let us first save lives and then think of other things.”

Bothe the organisations said that they have taken strong note of conduct of several schools in Jammu region who have sent fee collecting notices to their students. “According to our preliminary investigation some schools particularly who follow CBSE have sent notices to students to pay fee. None of the schools who are under school education department and affiliated to JKBOSE are involved in it. We have already asked the schools to refrain from collection of fee of any kind in this time,” said Manhas and Var in a their joint statement.

Both the Organisations said that if government issues any guidelines or orders they will also support it. “Though we have issued directions but the government of J&K should follow the government of Himachal Pradesh that has issued a formal order directing all schools under its jurisdiction to defer collection of any kind of fee till April 30. Some of CBSE schools don’t follow our rules but government has power to make them tow the line,” said both Manhas and Var.

Meanwhile continuing its works as part of its social responsibility, both te organisations said that they are willing to cooperate with government agencies to increase the ambit of its charity work. The Organisations have lauded Principal Secretary Education Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon for ordering teachers across J&K to give two months advance midday meal dry ration to families of kids enrolled in the government schools. “The distribution of advance dry ration to students is a welcome step and help in further strengthening the food security among the vulnerable section of the society,” said Manhas and Var. “In case there is some left over students who need assistance we at PSAJK and JKPSCC are ready to help.”