Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Jan 06: Parents have expressed concern over the lack of action by the Fee Fixation Committee (FFC) in regulating the bus fees charged by private schools in Jammu and Kashmir.
The parents said the schools were charging transport fees irrespective of the distance in violation of the norms set by the Fee Fixation and Regulating Committee (FFRC).
“I reside in Soura and my kid needs to reach Pantha Chowk for which the school charges ₹4,000 while other schools charge less than this,” said Arshad Bhat, a parent from Soura. He said the government should have issued a standardized rate list for schools.
Another parent questioned the rationale behind charging bus fees during winter vacations. “What is the FFC doing? Why have they fixed 50 percent bus fees when students are at home? This is unacceptable and illogical,” another Parent said.
The parents urged the government to issue clear guidelines to schools on account of charging transportation fees from students to ensure transparency and fairness.
Chairman of FFRC, Justice (retd) Hali told JKNS that they will not take any action unless they receive a formal complaint from the parents.
“If the parents will formally register their complaints, the committee will review the applications and address their concerns,” he said.
Chairman FFRC said the notices will be issued to the erring school accordingly.
“We will act once parents register their complaints,” he said.
Regarding the 50 percent bus fees fixed for winter vacations, Hali acknowledged that children were not attending school during vacations but the school operations continue. “The buses are still running, it is not just about fuel costs, there is maintenance, drivers’ salaries, and other expenses. The buses cannot be kept out of service, and the drivers cannot be let go during this period,” he said.
He justified the 50 percent transport fees to be charged during winter vacations saying that schools have to pay the drivers for which the fees was necessary to cover these costs.
The J&K Government has constituted the FFRC to oversee and determine the fee structure of private schools in Jammu & Kashmir, ensuring they do not demand excessive fees from students in breach of regulations. (JKNS)
