PESHAWAR: The owners of private educational institutions have asked the government to immediately withdraw notices and stop raids on private schools. They termed the action against the spirit of relevant laws.

They were speaking at a meeting of education standing committee of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry which was held with the chamber president Faiz Mohammad Faizi in chair here on Wednesday.

SCCI education standing committee chairman Saboor Sethi, Khwaja Yawar Naseer, Aqeel Razzaq and elected members of Private Schools Regulatory Authority Anas Takreem and Fazalullah Daudzai also spoke on the occasion.

According to a statement, the meeting criticised managing director of Private Schools Regulatory Authority for pressuring and harassing owners of private educational institutions.

The participants termed the crackdowns, imposition of penalties, sealing of private schools and sending them notices as against the relevant laws, saying that such practices must be stopped immediately. They expressed resentment over posting of details on social media about raids on private schools.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lags behind other provinces in education sector due to apathy of successive governments, while the sector is further pushing toward downfall by posting of incompetent officials on high positions,” the participants said.

They asked the government to replace the managing director of PSRA with a PhD scholar on this important position. They demanded suspension of all notices and an inquiry through an impartial committee to remove grievances of the private educational institutions.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2019