Moalims

Against the spirit of Article 25-A of the Constitution, which guarantees free education in public sector educational institutions, schools under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) are charging fees from the Prep class students.
During a survey of various educational institutions, Dawn noticed that the schools were charging Rs500 per month from the toddlers, claiming that Article 25-A guaranteed free education to students aged between five and 16 years while students of Prep class did not fall in this category.
It may be noted that last year all schools in the urban area of the federal capital had decided to charge Rs100 per month from the students of class Prep. However, when the matter was brought into the notice of State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Barrister Usman Ibrahim and Secretary CADD Khalid Hanif, the institutions were barred from charging the fee.
Sources said the schools didn’t pay heed to the directives of the minister and were still charging the fee, claiming that they lacked funds to run the Prep classes.
“When we don’t have any specific fund, how can we afford free education? Before putting a bar on us, CADD should provide us funds,” said the principal of a school who wished not be named.
She said all schools had hired extra teachers and midwives to look after the children. “We have to pay salaries to the teachers and midwives that’s why we are charging the fee.”
Another principal said if CADD tried to get the Article 25-A implemented for the Prep classes without allocating funds, the schools would be left with no other option but to discontinue the classes.
Sources in the FDE told Dawn that the minister for CADD had called a meeting on Friday (today) in which FDE director general Shahnaz A. Riaz, director model colleges and the director schools would explain their positions.
“Since the minister has called a meeting to discuss the issue, I hope we will reach a decision,” said Secretary CADD Khalid Hanif.

News reference: http://www.dawn.com/news/1186282/education-watch