Srinagar, Jul 7: Crescent Public School, located in Naseem Bagh, Srinagar, has directed students to pay for air conditioning expenses in classrooms, raising questions over whether private schools are shifting infrastructure and maintenance costs onto families under the guise of student comfort.
According to an official circular (Order No: CPS/211/Adm, dated July 7, 2025), the school has decided to implement the use of air conditioners in all classrooms “in view of the prevailing heatwave conditions,” and announced that a fee of Rs 150 per student will be collected to cover the AC operation costs for 30 working days.
The order states that this “nominal fee” is intended to support a comfortable learning environment. However, the directive has sparked criticism from several quarters, with netizens questioning why students are being made to pay for a facility that is the school’s permanent asset.
“If the school decides to install fans, desks, or any basic classroom equipment, are we expected to fund that too?” asked a social media user.
The directive mandates all Heads of Departments to collect the fee from students and submit the amount to the school office by July 15, maintaining receipt records for “transparency and accountability.”
When contacted, a school official told that the decision was made by the management and he has simply been directed to implement it. However, he added that he would convey the growing public concern and criticism to the management for their consideration.[KNT]
