LAHORE: The PakTurk Schools Parents Association has opposed handover of schools to Turkiye Maarif Foundation.

A delegation of the Parents Association of PakTurk Schools and students held a news conference at Lahore Press Club here on Thursday.

They said they were deeply concerned over the media reports regarding decision of the Supreme Court of handing over schools to a foreign organisation having only two years of experience.

They alleged that the organisation was not only new in the field of education but also stained with ‘news of child abuse and radicalisation.’

A release issued by the association said the PakTurk Education Foundation (PTEF) was not a profit guaranteed Pakistani company, registered with the SECP under Section 42 and was running a number of pre-school to college institutions in 10 cities and was educating more than 11,000 students.

It said Pakistani and Turkish individuals had founded the schools under the concept of Muakhat-e-Madina and the school chain was working under BoD from Pakistani community as a result of an understanding by the Turkish citizens to transfer the ownership to Pakistani community.

It said the Maarif Foundation was working in third world countries and allegedly involved in extremism, child abuse, low attendance and low educational standards.The parents have appealed to the SC and the government to review the decision.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2018