RAWALPINDI: The District Regulation Authority for Private Schools on Monday restored the registration of nine private schools.

However, one institution’s registration remained cancelled.

In a meeting, which was presided over by District Coordination Officer Talat Mehmood, registration of nine schools was restored after their owners apologised and submitted written statements that they would implement the provincial government’s directives in letter and spirit.

The district education department had cancelled registration of 10 private schools after they did not comply with the directives of the Punjab government regarding summer vacation which had been announced from May 24 to August 15 due to hot weather.

All government schools closed immediately but the private institutions did not follow the directives and remained open till the start of Ramazan.

On Monday, nine schools got their registration restored while Mr Cabin’s Private School was found collecting additional fees from students. Upon this, DCO Talat Mehmood cancelled its registration and asked it to return the additional fees to the students.

“The registration was cancelled after the school’s management was found collecting one month additional fee from students which was against the directives of the provincial government,” Executive District Officer Education Qazi Zahoorul Haq told Dawn.

He said the education department had already informed the private schools registered with the department that no additional fee would be collected for summer vacations.

He said the District Regulation Authority was formed to implement the directives of the provincial government as well as to regulate private sector’s educational institutions so that the government is aware of the quality of education being imparted in these institutions.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2016