Collection of fees: Panel asks government to take action against private educational institutes

ISLAMABAD A parliamentary panel on Friday asked the government to take strict actions against those private educational institutes that had failed to reduce the fee during the Covid-19 pandemic as per the directives of the Supreme Court and the government.

The Senate Implementation Committee, chaired by Senator Dilawar Khan took up the matter of collection of fees from the parents by the private educational institutes and reluctance to reduce the fees during the pandemic, despite the clear directions by the apex court as well as the government.

The committee expressed serious concerns over non-reduction of fees by the private educational institutes, and directed the concerned authorities to strictly implement the government instructions and the Supreme Court's directions in this regard.

Briefing the committee chairperson, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) Zia Batool said that the federal government had recommended a 20 percent reduction in fees for private educational institutes and the Supreme Court had also clearly directed that 2017 be made the benchmark and the private educational institutions were authorised for a five percent increase in the fees.

It was further informed that the private educational institutions were directed to collect only 50 percent fees during summer vacations.

The committee was further informed that the schools, which were charging more than Rs5, 000 per month fees were directed to reduce their fees by 20 percent.

She said that the fees of 10 percent elite private schools were very high and the remaining 90 percent charge normal fees.

The committee was further informed that 700 complaints had been received regarding non-reduction of fees and action was also being taken.

Chairman Committee Senator Dilawar Khan said that the complaints were being received from many parents against private educational institutes.

He added that the private educational institutes did not reduce the fees even during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite directions of the government and the Supreme Court.

Senator Nighat Mirza said that not only the middle class, but the rich were also equally suffering the way the private educational institutes had increased the fees.

She said prominent schools in Islamabad had not only declined to reduce the fees, but they had further increased the fees.

The chairperson PEIRA told the committee that those schools, which were not following the instructions, would be issued warning letters, adding that those schools could also be sealed or unregistered with the district administration as a last resort.

The chairman of the committee said that strict actions should be taken against those schools that were not cooperating with the government.

The committee also took up the matter of appointment of Dr Lal Rehman on ex-FATA domicile at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The committee chairman pointed out that the issue of appointment of Dr Lal Rehman from former FATA region had already been reviewed in detail.

He said that the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan, also clarified this in the committee meeting in the past.

He said that departments of the ex-FATA had merged with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after the 25th amendment.

When the post was advertised, he added that the FATA had merged in the province but unfortunately the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) treated Dr Lal Rehman unfairly by withholding his appointment as he belonged to Bajaur District.

He said that Dr Rehman was selected on open merit.

On which, Secretary FPSC Hamira Ahmed informed the committee that he had sought the opinion of the Ministry of Law regarding the matter, adding the Commission follows the government's instructions.

The implementation committee issued directives that the appointment of Dr Lal Rehman as a neurosurgeon at the PIMS should be implemented immediately.

The meeting was attended by senators, Nighat Mirza, Rana Mahmood Al Hassan, Sardar Mohammad Shafiq Tareen, Hidayatullah, Abida Mohammad Azeem besides Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan, Special Secretary Establishment Division Dr Masood Akhtar Chaudhry, Secretary FPSC Hamira Ahmed, Additional Secretary Cabinet Division, Additional Secretary Ministry of Education, and others.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020