Ganderbal, Nov 12. Parents of students enrolled at Birla Open Mind School, Kurhama in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal, have raised strong objections over the school’s sudden demand for annual charges, accusing the management of going back on its earlier assurance regarding the fee structure.
According to several parents, when they paid the admission fees in April 2024, the school authorities had clearly informed them that no annual charges would be levied. However, the institution has now reportedly asked each student to deposit Rs 6,000 as annual charges, a move that parents describe as arbitrary and exploitative.
They said the amount is unusually high for a rural area like Kurhama, where most schools charge between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 annually. Parents further alleged that the school’s tuition fees are already considerably higher than those of other educational institutions in the vicinity.
“Tuitions and annual charges here are much higher compared to other schools in our area. This is putting unnecessary pressure on parents,” said Tufail Ahmad Rather, a parent from Kurhama.
Another parent, Hilal Ahmad Wagay, said, “At the time of admission, we were told clearly that annual charges were not applicable. Now, after several months, the school is demanding Rs 6,000, which is totally unjustified.”
Mushtaq Ahmad, another concerned parent, appealed to the authorities for immediate intervention. “We request the Education Minister Sakina Ittoo and the Director, School Education, Naseer Ahmad Wani, to look into this matter and take strict action so that private schools stop exploiting parents,” he said.
The parents have collectively urged the Education Department to ensure transparency and fairness in fee regulation across all private schools in the district, demanding that institutions adhere to their declared fee structures and avoid burdening families mid-session. [KNT]
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