Accountability for Private Schools

For years now, private schools across Kashmir have operated with an unsettling degree of autonomy when it comes to fixing and collecting fees. Despite repeated circulars, guidelines, and advisories issued by the administration, many institutions continue to charge students as per their own whim and whimsy. Parents have long complained that fee structures often change without notice, lack transparency, or remain unjustifiably high, yet meaningful enforcement has rarely followed. The latest circular issued by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) once again exposes a problem that has persisted for far too long. The directorate has cautioned private schools against publishing or displaying fee structures that deviate from those approved by the J&K Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC). That such a warning is still necessary in 2025 only underscores how entrenched this culture of non-compliance has become. The circular highlights a worrying trend of private schools uploading unapproved fee details on websites and mobile applications, effectively sidelining the regulatory mechanism put in place to ensure fairness. The fact that district authorities have now been tasked to conduct field verification and obtain written undertakings from these institutions shows that the issue is not limited to isolated cases, rather systemic. Private schools undeniably play a crucial role in the education landscape of Kashmir. Many of them have raised academic standards, introduced modern teaching methodologies, and provided quality learning environments. But this contribution cannot be used as a shield to justify arbitrary fee practices. Regulation is not meant to stifle growth, but only to ensure accountability and prevent exploitation. It is encouraging that the DSEK has now made it clear that no private school may charge tuition, transport, annual, or any other fees beyond what the FFRC allows. The warning of strict administrative action must not remain a mere formality this time. Parents deserve transparency; students deserve fairness; and schools deserve to operate within a system where rules apply uniformly. One hopes that this renewed push by the authorities is not just another routine reminder but the beginning of a more stringent, sustained enforcement regime. Private schools must finally be held accountable. The era of unchecked fee fixation must end, once and for all.