The Jammu and Kashmir Private Schools Association (J&K-PSA) has set up district-level grievance redressal cells to address parents’ complaints against private schools and take up cases involving violations of government norms, including those prescribed by the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC).The district presidents of the Association have been designated as nodal officers to receive complaints and take them up with the concerned schools. Parents can submit written complaints along with relevant details to the respective district representatives.The decision was announced at a meeting of the Association’s State Executive Council in Anantnag, chaired by State President Bilal Ahmad Bhat. The meeting reviewed issues concerning private schools, parents’ grievances and the quality of education across Jammu and Kashmir.Bhat said the Association would not tolerate violations of established rules by its member institutions and urged parents to report such cases.”Our doors are open to every parent. Wherever a violation is noticed, we request parents to submit a written complaint to the Association. We will take up the matter with the concerned school and ensure that appropriate action is taken,” he said.He also referred to complaints concerning transparency in school book lists, saying schools had increasingly started displaying prescribed lists on their websites or notice boards following directions from the Education Department. This, he said, would help parents exercise their choice.The meeting also discussed the government’s recent decision to simplify several no-objection certificate (NOC) requirements under its Ease of Doing Business initiative. Association General Secretary (Organisation) Mohammad Syed Wani welcomed the move, saying it would help address long-pending difficulties faced by private educational institutions.Wani also expressed hope that Education Minister Advocate Shameema Firdous would take up the remaining issues concerning private schools and help create a more supportive regulatory environment.Explaining the Association’s monthly executive council meetings, Wani said these were held across different districts to review progress on previous commitments, assess challenges facing private schools and set priorities for the coming month.The council also deliberated on academic standards, teacher training, student welfare and the need to promote students’ participation in cultural, sports and extracurricular activities.PSAJK Founding President and Chief Patron G.N. Var, along with other senior office-bearers, joined the meeting virtually.The Association has released district-wise contact details of the grievance cell nodal officers, including representatives in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara. Contact details for the remaining districts will be shared separately.The Association said the grievance mechanism would focus on addressing genuine complaints and improving coordination between parents and private schools.
Leave a comment