Private schools supposed to collect fee on monthly basis, Senate body told

Published June 25, 2019
The meeting told by Peira in writing that private schools cannot charge summer fees together.  — Dawn/File
The meeting told by Peira in writing that private schools cannot charge summer fees together. — Dawn/File

ISLAMABAD: A Senate functional committee was on Monday informed by Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) that Islamabad-based schools are supposed to collect fee on a monthly basis.

The special committee formed to provide a mechanism for implementation of the recommendations of committees of the upper house met at Parliament House with Senator Dilawar Khan in the chair.

The meeting was told by Peira in writing that private schools cannot charge summer fees together.

The meeting was held to take up an agenda item ‘Point of public importance regarding charge of holidays fee by private educational institutions’ raised by Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar in the Senate on April 26.

However, due to absence of the mover, the meeting did not discuss the agenda item.

The committee also takes up point of public importance on problems being faced by expats in biometric verification in banks

A working paper submitted by Peira to the committee stated that there was no direction from the Supreme Court restraining the private schools from charging fees of summer holidays 2019 and onwards.

“However, keeping in view the economic position of parents, private schools have been directed by the authority to charge fee of entire academic session of 12 calendar months, including the summer holidays, on a monthly basis,” read the paper.

“Notwithstanding the above, in case of any direction from the committee/Senate on account of relief to parents with regard to fees of summer holidays 2019, same shall be communicated to private schools of Islamabad accordingly for compliance,” it added.

The committee did not discuss the working paper of Peira and decided that the matter would be taken up at its next meeting.

Earlier, the committee while discussing the issue of Bachelor in Eastern Medicine and System said those who hold this degree cannot be treated equivalent to the MBBS degree holders. The holders of this degree are supposed to practice only Tibb.

The committee was told that there was a degree of Bachelor in Eastern Medicine and System (BEMS). However, in 2014 it was unofficially written as Bachelor in Eastern Medicine and Surgery. But a new notification has been issued which replaced the word ‘surgery’ with system.

The committee also took up a point of public importance raised by Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi regarding problems being faced by expatriates due to the biometric system in banks.

The committee recommended that expatriate disabled persons and senior citizens should be given exemption from biometric verification of their bank accounts.

The committee decided that the matter would be taken up at its next meeting.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.