Moalims

LAHORE: A delegation of Parents Association met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday and thanked him for resolving the issue of increase in the fees of private schools.

The delegation also appreciated the efforts of the chief minister for promotion of education and establishment of Daanish Schools in Punjab.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that education is the right of every child and the Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme for ensuring 100 percent enrollment of children in schools and promotion of quality of education. He said there is dire need to work with honesty, commitment and determination to achieve this objective.

The CM said that Education Department will have to work more efficiently to improve the standard of education in public sector schools. The chief minister said that the Punjab government has ensured quality educational facilities to the children of low-income segments by setting up Daanish Schools in remote areas and modern methods of teaching have been adopted in these schools.

Shahbaz said that an immediate notice was taken of the protest of parents over increase in fees by private educational institutions and the government immediately issued an ordinance in this regard for the purpose of lessening the financial burden on the parents of the children who were studying in private educational institutions.

He said that under the ordinance, private schools will not be allowed to raise their fees in the ongoing educational session and they will have to get registered within 45 days. He said that there was no justification for increase in fees. He said that a procedure has been evolved for the implementation of the measures under the ordinance and the authorities concerned have been constituted at district levels, which comprises representatives of parents and schools.

The chief minister directed Education Department to evolve a comprehensive mechanism for maintaining a close and constant contact with the Parents Association and teachers as all departments concerned and associations have to work together for the promotion of education.

The delegation of Parents Association thanked the chief minister for taking immediate measures on the issue of increase in fees by private educational institutions and commended his efforts in this regard.

The delegation also congratulated the chief minister on the setting up of Daanish Schools for providing free educational facilities to the children. Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Schools Education secretary, Lahore Division commissioner and Lahore district coordination officer (DCO) were also present on the occasion.

News Reference