By Dr. Ashraf Zainabi

Private school fees in Jammu and Kashmir have remained a source of stress for parents and confusion for authorities for years. 

Every session brings the same cycle: fee hikes, protests, notices, and silence. Schools defend themselves by citing rising costs, parents feel burdened and unheard. 

In between, there is no clear system that explains who should charge what, and why.

The real problem is not just high fees. It is the absence of a simple, transparent structure. 

All schools are treated as if they are the same, when in reality they are very different. A small neighbourhood school cannot be compared with a high-end institution claiming international standards. Yet, both operate in the same unclear space. This is where reform must begin, with classification.

Private schools should be divided into, let us say, five clear categories: Class A, B, C, D, and E. This classification should be based on visible and measurable factors, beginning teacher salary, infrastructure, student-teacher ratio, and academic environment. 

Teacher salary is the most honest indicator of a school’s standard. A school that pays its teachers well is more likely to deliver quality education. A school that pays very low salaries cannot claim high standards, no matter how attractive its building looks.

Once classified, each category should have a fixed base fee. This base fee must be simple. It should include only one component: monthly tuition fee. Nothing else, not even annual fee, development fee, or activity fee under different names. The only extra charge allowed should be a small amount between ₹200 and ₹500 in a year, only for picnics or........

© Kashmir Observer