Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Jul 24: The private preparatory schools—Kindergartens in Kashmir division are functioning without any regulatory authority and mechanism and continue to go un-governed—thus raising a question on the functioning of the authorities.
Officials at the School Education Department informed that “Besides having no regulatory authority, the department has no idea as to whether there was any framework or mechanism devised for the functioning of these Kindergartens.”
The officials of the department also say that they have no data regarding the number of such schools functioning in Kashmir Valley.
Meanwhile, some of the parents of those wards studying in private crèches said that the lackadaisical approach of the government is giving a freehand to the owners of these preparatory schools to mint hefty amounts from the parents.
One of the parents said, “With no regulatory authority to monitor and keep a check and balance on the functioning of these pre-schools, a hefty amount is being minted from the parents in the name of admission and tuition charges.”
Another parent said, “Either these crèches should not be allowed to function or there should be a proper check on it.”
“Irony is that as to who is keeping an eye as to how the kids are being treated and what kind of treatment and food is being given to them,” he said.
Last year, the School Education Department had said that they were in the process of monitoring the crèches in Kashmir.
Director School Education Kashmir, Tassaduq Hussain Mir was not available for his comments.
