November 24, 2008	Monday	Ziqa'ad 25, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 23: The provincial directorate of private educational institutions has asked managements of private schools not to charge the fee for summer vacations from their students because the current academic session will end by March 31.

Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui, director of private institutions, Sindh, noted that the students who had passed their Matric examination in the academic session 2007-08 from private schools were being charged the fee for summer vacations. He said managements of their schools would be asked to refund the fees immediately.

He advised parents of the affected students to approach the directorate for help in the refund of the fees. Besides, he added, action could also be taken against such schools for violating the relevant directive.

Mr Siddiqui also advised parents of schoolchildren to seek the directorate’s help against any hike in tuition fee at any stage during an academic year, clarifying that a fee hike was allowed only at the start of an academic year.—Staff Reporter