Private educational institutions in Kashmir, which were once considered a symbol of quality education, have been a serious problem for parents for decades. Parents who enroll their children in these schools with the dream of better education are now burdened by increasing and unpredictable fees. There is a lack of transparency in the fee structure and often the increase is neither reasonable nor clearly explained.
Although various committees have been formed at the government level to address this issue, their results on the ground are not visible. It is a bitter reality that lack of regulation and weak enforcement have given free rein to private schools, resulting in charging exorbitant fees becoming the norm.
What is needed is that this issue should not be limited to mere paperwork but practical and comprehensive steps should be taken to address it. The government should strengthen the monitoring system and formulate a clear and workable policy for determining fees. Along with this, the committees formed should also be made more effective and representative.
It is especially important to include members of the local community in these committees. Journalists, lawyers and above all, parents themselves should be part of this process so that the ground realities can be brought to the fore in a better way. Parental involvement will not only promote transparency but also restore public confidence in decisions.
If timely and effective measures are not taken, this problem may become more serious, which will have repercussions not only on parents but also on the entire education system. Education is a fundamental right, it is the joint responsibility of both the state and society to prevent it from being turned into a profitable business.
