Minister of State for Education Baligh-ur-Rehman said on Thursday that unjustified fee hike is not acceptable to anyone. The minister said that increase in fee, if any, should not be more than the current rate of inflation and it should not be done without any established mechanism. Prime Minister has serious concerns about this issue and he wants to get it solved immediately.
Representatives of private schools briefed the minister regarding their concerns and reasons behind the fee hike that has become a bone of contention among private schools, parents and the government. They said that increase in inflation, advance taxes, increase in CPI, and increase in the rents of the buildings are the major causes of the fee increase.
They further added that they pay good salaries to their teachers and staff, and pay special attention to the security of the children and provide them with all the upgraded facilities. And therefore it is not possible for them to operate on a low cost. After listening to the concerns of the private schools, minister of state said that schools should have obtained prior permission from PIERA, the regulatory authority for private schools, regarding their fee structure. He emphasised again at the end that all schools, while demanding fee hike should keep in view the very low rate of (current) inflation rate. Another round of discussion on the same issue will take place today (Friday).-PR
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