This time round, the 20pc fee concession was given only to people paying Rs8,000 per month. AFP/File
ISLAMABAD: According to the new notification issued on Monday by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira), a 20pc concession in fees has been offered to parents paying more than Rs8,000 per month.
Last year, Peira had notified a 20pc fee concession in all schools charging more than Rs5,000, to facilitate parents from the middle and lower middle classes. However, this time round, the 20pc fee concession was given only to people paying Rs8,000 per month.
“Providing relief to parents, whose children are studying in upscale schools is a good step but majority of students in Islamabad are pursuing their education in schools charging less than Rs8000 per month and their parents are facing a hard time due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so there should be some relief for them too,” a parent pointed out.
Private schools in the capital, due to weak regulatory check, continue to charge full fee even when schools are closed during the pandemic. File
ISLAMABAD: Private schools in the capital, due to weak regulatory check, continue to charge full fee even when schools are closed during the pandemic. However, the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) is unmoved to protect the rights of parents.
Last year, Peira had notified a 20pc fee reduction for schools charging more than Rs5,000 per month. Later, another notification for fee reduction was issued to be effective till the opening of schools on Sept 15. But when schools were reopened and then closed again, Peira issued no new notification, meaning from Sept 15 last year parents have been paying full fee.
Apropos a recent email sent by a leading private school to the parents regarding the adoption of Single National Curriculum (SNC) from August 2021, I believe an ostrich-like approach is being adopted by the management of private schools and Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira).
Without taking on board and discussing the issue with the ultimate affectees parents and children how can the private schools’ management impose something on the parents in ‘good faith’? It has indeed shaken the ‘good faith’ of parents in them and, if mishandled, will ultimately lead to future withdrawals from private schools. In order to bring madressahs and public schools on a par with private schools, it is not advisable to apply a coercion approach toward private schools by the government. Indeed, the concept of SNC is important to bring all sectors of society on one page, but its careful implementation is also essential.
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel was told on Tuesday that the government is mulling over providing loans to low-income schools, affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
National Assembly Standing Committee on Education, which met here with MNA Mian Najeeb-ud-Din Awaisi in the chair discussed various issues related to the education sector. Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Wajiha Akram said that the government is planning to provide loans to educational institutions that suffered losses.
She told the committee that the government took the decision to close schools and colleges because safety of students and teachers was its first priority.
Representatives from Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) briefed the committee about necessary steps being taken by their respective departments during the pandemic.