20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 19: Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Marwat on Monday said that the ordinance pertaining to private schools was not aimed at troubling these institutions.

Under the ordinance, action would be taken only against those institutions, which charged exorbitant fees, without providing matching facilities to their students, Mr Marwat said, while chairing a meeting of the Private Schools Management Association, held at his office.

He pointed out that such institutions, usually comprising two to three small, overcrowded rooms, paid low to teachers, but made them sign salary slips for higher amounts, besides raising the fees abruptly.

These institutions were only aimed at fleecing people, having no consideration for imparting proper education, he said. Mr Marwat said no matter if a school was set up five or ten years back, it should be registered once only.

He told the meeting that from now onwards, the transfer certificate would not be counter-signed by the EDOs. He said no tax was being imposed by the city government, however, income tax or other government taxes would be charged.

The PSMA felicitated the government for issuing the new ordinance, and demanded that like those of other provinces, Sindh educational boards should also be placed under the Education Department. The meeting was attended, among others, by PSMA Chairman Tanvir Ahmad and the EDO, Prof Rais Alvi.-APP