IN 2015, the prime minister directed the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIR A) to seal schools which were not re-adjusting their fees and not refunding the already-charged fee.
Education is now an issue for theprovincial government after the 18th Amendment. The prime minister had already advised all chief ministers to design similar policies.
It is deplorable that no measures in this regard have been taken by the Sindh government.
PEIRA formed a `grievances cell` to redress parents` complaints. Parents can lodge complaints through telephone, facsimile, written requests and email. Is this only for Islamabad residents or for parentsin allprovinces? PEIRA should ask provincial governments to form grievance cells under the supervision of chief minister`s secretariat. The monthly tuition fee is being increased at more than five per cent by private schools besides unlawful annual charges.
Only those schools should be allowed to increase the fee by 10pc which receive Rs2,000 or less per child. The fee hike is in violation of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Ordinances of 2003 and 2015, under section 6 of the law the fee structure must be fixed with the approval of the government.
Another illegal practice is charging advance fees for June and July in January and February.Thisis an additional hnancial burden on parents.
In a few households, parents have to pay fees for more than four children. How is it possible to pay such an exorbitant fee? School van owners also charge fees for June and July despite vacations. The government should stop such practices.
