Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and party candidate for Amirakadal constituency, Syed Altaf Bukhari has said that there is hardly any stratum of the society that was not affected by the September floods and the schools that charge its students for this murky month have actually crossed the limits of conceit and selfishness.In a statement issued here, Bukhari observed that besides creating havoc in almost all the sectors of economic activities, the devastating floods have left education badly affected with the infrastructure of many schools and the education of students being the worst hit. “In such circumstances, charging tuition and bus fee from the flood hit parents for a month in which the schools remained shut and unable to provide any educational services to students is ethically and morally depraved,” Bukhari remarked.
Many delegations that met Bukhari apprised him about some schools that are compelling parents to deposit tuition and bus fare of their wards for the two months including September without any concern for their plight. These delegations also informed the PDP leader that they have become homeless due to floods and are not in a position to pay the tuition and bus fare of their wards.While acknowledging the sufferings of thousands of private school teachers and other non teaching staff whose livelihood is based on the fee deposits, Bukhari said the school managements should come forward in this hour of crisis and pay the one month salary from their school proceeds. “It is imperative for the school managements to understand the sufferings of parents whose dwellings have been damaged and in most of the cases whose business establishments have been completely shattered due to floods. Charging fee from parents for September in such circumstances is like rubbing salt to their injuries,” Bukhari stressed. Urging the government to intervene, Bukhari said that the administration should pass clear instructions to all the private schools not to charge parents with the tuition and bus fee for the month of September.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over the lack of adequate heating arrangements in schools, Bukhari impressed on school authorities to provide necessary heating facilities to all schools in Kashmir before their closure for winter vacation. “It is unfortunate that the floods have shattered our educational infrastructure.Most of the schools are bereft of proper matting, seating arrangements and are now reeling under biting cold because of open windows, broken windowpanes and absence of any gadgets or apparatus for heating. The bare floors are sufficient to make the students shiver and blunt their senses making all teachings fall flat. The government school authorities and private school managements must ensure proper heating facilities for the students to cope up with the chilling cold,” Bukhari stressed.