Coaching Centres in North Kashmir’s Sumbal don’t have uniform fee structure, Allege parents

Bandipora: Parents Tuesday alleged there is no uniform fee structure in Coaching Centres located in Sumbal area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

A delegation of parents from Sumbal and Hajin Blocks of the district told News Agency Kashmir News Trust there are several coaching centres in Bandipora district but none among them has uniform fee structure.

“Some charge Rs 20,000, some Rs 25,000 and others charge Rs 25,000 for a subject. Whenever we raise this question to them, they come up with the justification that they are availing the services of reputed teachers and they have to pay handsome salaries to them,” said Muhammad Yousuf, a resident of Nesbal Sumbal.

“We are spending huge sums on the coaching of our children. There are no renowned mentors and teachers. All these coaching centres in the district avail the services of Government teachers and Lecturers,” said Mushtaq Ahmed of Hajin.

The parents said that in absence of any government regulations, these Coaching Centres charge fee at will. They alleged these Centres even don’t refund the fee when students are dissatisfied during the first two weeks of demo classes but persuade them to carry one.

An official from one of the coaching centres in question refuted these charges saying they only charge Rs 7,000 to 8,000 for a subject. He said they follow government guidelines and even publish the fee structure in News Papers. “A student is free to leave the coaching centre if he feels dissatisfied during the demo classes and we re-fund those students. It is wrong to say Coaching Centres forcibly ask students to join their institution,” he said. (KNT)