16 January 2005	Sunday	05 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: The education ministry has decided to set up a regulatory body to supervise private schools and colleges in the capital, an official source told Dawn.

In this regard, a draft bill has already been worked out and the education ministry is likely to approve it after Eid, the source said.

The bill will then be forwarded to the law division for mandatory vetting before it makes its way to the federal cabinet for consideration. Later, the bill will be placed before the National Assembly and the Senate for formal approval, the source said.

The education ministry had been receiving complaints over the last few years regarding the ever-increasing fees charged by private-sector educational institutions. Keeping this in view, the ministry has decided to establish a regulatory body to oversee the working of such institutions.

The body will check the high rate of tuition fees charged by private educational institutions. In this connection, Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi has already directed the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education chairman to gather information about the fees charged by private schools and colleges in the capital, the source said.

The federal board will also make an assessment of the facilities being provided by these institutions. The source said educational institutions would be able to increase their fees on annual basis only after the approval of the body.

The increase in fees would be according to the inflation rate decided by the State Bank of Pakistan. Similarly, it would be compulsory for every school and college to provide adequate sports facilities for physical development of students.

However, the source clarified that setting up of the regulatory body did not mean interference in the administrative affairs of private schools and colleges. The basic idea behind establishment of the regulatory body is to make private educational institutions affordable for the middle class.