LAHORE: The FIA on Saturday seized the record of more private school chains in various districts across the province for their forensic audit following a Supreme Court order.

According to the FIA, it seized the record of Beacon College Campus, University Road, Sargodha; Beaconhouse KG Campus Sargodha; The City School Sargodha; and Beacon-house, The City School junior and senior branches in Jhang.

FIA Additional Director Sajid Akram Chaudhry said the other schools whose records had been confiscated were Lahore Grammar School and Resource Academia, Faisalabad. Similarly, records of private school chains in Multan division were also taken into possession. The FIA said it would submit a primary report to the Supreme Court in 15 days.

The apex court had ordered private schools to slash their fees by 20pc and refund 50pc of the fee they charged during the summer vacation. The court had directed the FBR chairman to scrutinise the tax records and accounts of private schools.

Schools Education Minister Murad Raas said the government would ensure that 20pc of the fee received by the elite private schools was reimbursed.

“A draft of a proposed regulatory authority to deal with the matters of private schools is under consideration in the law department and will be presented in the next session of Punjab Assembly for approval,” he maintained.

The minister also warned that the registration of those private schools would be suspended who failed to pay salaries less than the minimum wages to their teachers. “The 50pc of summer vacation fee will also be adjusted in the next fee plan of the private schools,” he said.

He directed the private schools to ensure the slash in fee by Dec 31 otherwise legal action would be initiated against them.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2018