BAJAUR: The owners of private educational institutions in Bajaur tribal district on Saturday agreed on a 50 per cent concession in fees for the months the schools remained closed due to the Covid-19-induced lockdown.

The development came following successful talks between the leaders of both factions of the All Bajaur Private Schools Association and officials of the district administration and the education department at a meeting chaired by additional deputy commissioner Sohil Aziz.

The meeting held days after the management of private educational institutions had issued notices to parents asking them to submit fees of their children for five months (April to August) till Sept 15 at all costs.

However, the district administration and the education department officials had opposed the decision, asking the heads of private schools either not to charge the fee at all or make a 50 per cent concession for the months lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The officials had said the owners of private educational institutions could not force the parents to pay fees of the months their children did not attend a single class.

According to the agreement, the owners of private schools would receive the fees of only two and a half months, and would have to pay salaries to teachers for the same period.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2020