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Private schools regulator headless

2015-06-12
hile the number of private schools in Islamabad is growing each day, there is no adequate accountability mechanism to ensure quality education and facilities at these institutions. The sole regulatory authority-Private Educational Institution Regulatory Authority (Peira) has been working without a permanent head for the last two years while employees have been working without salaries for the last four months.

`Every year, over 100 new private schools open up in Islamabad and unfortunately, there is no means to keep a check on quality, said President Private School Network Dr Afzal Babur.

He said since May 2013, Piera is being run on adhoc basis.

`We want accountability and we want government patronage but it appears that the CADD is not serious about promoting quality private education,` he said.

Dr Babur said that since there is no proper monitoring, many schools have hired teachers who only have Matric degree and there is no salary structure for them. While there is also no check on schools which increase fees at will, he said.

The last Piera chairman, Atif Khan, completed his four-year term on June 10, 2013. Since then, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has been running the affairs of the institution on an ad hoc basis. Currently, Joint Secretary Rukhsana Rehman is running the affairs of Peira. Speaking to Dawn, Additional Secretary CADD Qaiser Majid Malik said that efforts are being made for the appointment of a permanent head for Peira and for salaries of Peira employees to be released soon.