Moalims

Problems of Private Educational Institutions

Islamabad, Feb 17: As the government is considering the fate of Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), the representatives of private schools are perturbed that they have not been included in the consultation process.

The authority was constituted in 2006 through promulgation of an ordinance by the then President Musharraf. The ordinance required approval from the Parliament or be reissued and the president had given extension of 120 days to the ordinance, which is going to end on March 10.

That is why NA Standing Committee on Education has constituted a sub-committee to review the ordinance.

The members of the sub-committee including Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Begum Nuzhat Sadiq and Justice(R) Fakhar-un-Nisa, reportedly, did not consult the representatives of the private schools at any level.

Nuzhat Sadiq said thorough deliberations would be made before tabling it in the parliament and it would be ensured that point of view of the representatives of private schools is included in the bill.

The owners of the private schools have voiced their concerns on many occasions and demanded to change the self-finance position of the authority, which is creating problems for the schools instead of helping. They say it is burdening them by charging heavy amounts of funds in terms of security fee, registration fee and inspection fee.

President of All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Owners' Association, Abrar Hussain, said as the authority doesn't get funds from the govt, it draws funds from the schools to give salaries to its staff and pay rent of its building which has doubled financial burden eventually for the students.

The owners of the private schools have complained that they have paid 12,000 to 50,000 rupees to get registration from the authority and they have to renew their registration after two years whereas in other parts of the country, private schools renew their registration after five years. After two years, each school pays 7,000 to 25,000 rupees for renewal of registration.

According to statistics, besides government schools currently 700 private schools have been working in the capital in which 1,85000 students have been given education and still thousands of children are out of schools. Across the country 350 million children are out of school. (The nation).

NOCs issuance decision

Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi Association of Private Schools (RAPS) Tuesday appreciated the station commander for his decision of issuing NOCs to private schools.

The general body of RAPS met with its president Captain (r) Ameer-ud-Din in the chair. Vice President Nasreen Tariq, General Secretary Group Captain (r) Asif Mehmood, Secretary Tahmeena Malik and school principals attended the meeting.

The RAPS president said that the station commander has started inspection of schools for issuance of NOCs and gave directions for necessary security requirements for getting NOCs. "We would complete all security requirements. Most of the schools had already completed the security requirements.

Talks with the station commander are underway on other problems which would be resolved soon," he added. The participants of the meeting also offered 'dua' for late Major General Bilal Omer Khan and for other martyrs of the Parade Lane incident. (The news)