Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Un-Aided Private School Association (JKUPSA) submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, addressing several pressing issues affecting private educational institutions across the region.
The memorandum underscored key concerns, particularly the association’s call to adhere to the Supreme Court’s directive mandating only three No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for school registration or renewal. This initiative seeks to streamline procedures, minimize delays, and eliminate unnecessary departmental hurdles.
JKUPSA proposed empowering the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC) to regulate fees below ₹2000 per month. This adjustment would ease the financial strain on smaller schools, ensuring procedural delays do not compromise their operations.
The association underscored the importance of aligning fee regulation policies with the principles of the T.M.A. Pai judgment to ensure fairness and transparency.
JKUPSA expressed concerns over the mandatory use of JKBOSE-recommended textbooks, urging the government to allow schools the autonomy to select books that align with their curriculum and standards.
The association highlighted delays in JKBOSE registration renewals caused by pending NOCs and procedural inefficiencies. They called for the elimination of penalties of up to ₹10,000, describing them as unjust. JKUPSA urged for a streamlined renewal process to avoid such fines.
The memorandum recommended extending the validity of private school registrations to at least ten years. This move would reduce the frequency of renewal processes, enabling schools to focus more on delivering quality education.
JKUPSA also appreciated the timely intervention of the J&K Education Minister, Sakeena Itoo, regarding the one-time exemption for registration under the September 19, 2024, order, which addressed several challenges faced by private schools.
In response, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured the delegation of his government’s commitment to addressing their concerns. He pledged to implement measures to support the private education sector in J&K, ensuring its smooth functioning.
The delegation was led by Showkat Chowdhary, President of JKUPSA, who expressed optimism about the government’s positive response. Several notable personalities, including Professor Chuni Lal Vishan, Rauf Ahmad Zargar, Faisal Aga, Iqbal Hanief Beg, and Syed Akhter Hussain, were also present during the meeting, voicing their support for the association’s demands.
