Piera unable to implement fee rules

The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Piera) unable to implement its own rules pertaining to the regulation of fees charged by private educational institutions and did act as a patron to schools, particularly to low cost schools, in order to improve the standard of education.

Even though there are hundreds of schools in the city, the quality of education in smaller schools in the rural areas has not been up to the mark, and in many cases the owners of these schools have not employed teachers who hold BA or B.Ed degrees. The teachers are also paid very nominal salaries, ranging from Rs8,000 to Rs10,000.

“We have conducted inspections of educational institutions, and are striving to provide patronage to all private schools to improve the quality of education,” said an official from Piera. However, he said that as far as regulating the fees of private institutions is concerned, some elite schools have obtained stay orders from the courts.

“We are trying to get the stay order vacated,” the official added.

In July this year, Peira notified its rules capping the fee structures of private schools. However, elite private schools challenged the decision and obtained stay orders in the matter.

According to its rules, the upper limit for monthly fees for matric, FA and FSc is Rs8,350, while the upper limit for O and A levels has been set at Rs12,525. If a school wishes to increase its fees, school operators have to convince the regulatory body, which will in turn determine the fees.

Private School Network President Dr Afzal Babur said that instead of imposing its rules on fee regulation, Piera should act as a patron to private schools.

“Other than a registration slip, the regulatory body is giving us nothing. Under these circumstances, why should we follow their rules,” he asked, adding that over 700 schools are operating without registration, but the regulatory body has failed to act against them.

Convocation ceremony held at NUST

A convocation ceremony to award bachelors degrees in Military Arts and Sciences to the third batch of young army officers, from 128 and 129 Pakistan Military Academy long courses, was held at the main National University of Science and Technology (Nust) campus on Thursday.

Nust Rector Mohammad Asghar was invited to the ceremony as chief guest, and a number of families and dignitaries attended the event.

Speaking at the convocation, Mr Asghar congratulated the young officers, and said the armed forces had an important responsibility to guard the country’s geographical frontiers, and added that the country is facing a much greater and more pervasive threat from within.

The chief guest wished the graduating officers with success.

Nust Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies Principal retired Maj Gen Mazhar Saleem Khan, in his address, said the focus of the programme was to provide a solid base of all-encompassing education and grooming students, to help them on the road to further learning and higher education.

The university’s rector and the Pakistan Army’s inspector general training and evaluation, Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa then distributed the degrees and awards to the graduates.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2016