ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Friday raised concerns over the Ministry of Education’s failure to amend rules of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) in light of orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The Senate Functional Committee on Delegated Legislation, under the chairmanship of Senator Mian Raza Rabbani examined the matter.

During the meeting, the committee discussed the Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2013.

The committee members noted that the Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Fee Determination) Rules, 2016 were challenged by private educational institutions through a writ petition and the IHC had declared several sub-rules ultra vires to their parent act, including schedule II of the rules. They said that court had directed the Ministry of Education to rectify the inconsistencies.

Representatives of the ministry assured the committee that draft rules will be forwarded to Ministry of Law for input within one week. Secretary (Ministry of Law), then also told members that an opinion will be given on these rules within one week. The committee gave timelines to both ministries to complete the said task.

The committee also raised a query about the status of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Employees Service Regulations, 1989, which apparently had not been repealed by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Employees Service Regulations, 2005. The officials were not able to provide a satisfactory reply to this.

The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission Act, 2011, and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission Employees (Service) Regulations, 2018, were also examined during the meeting.

Members pointed out that the provisions of some rules were in contradiction with the regulations of 2018, and queries were raised about regular, contract, and probation periods. The director general of NAVTTC said that a report would be provided within 10 days. Overall, the meeting was productive, and the committee’s rigorous analysis and inquiries will lead to further improvements in subordinate legislation.

The meeting was attended by Senators Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Rubina Khalid, and Senator Keshoo Bai besides officials from the ministries of education and law and their various attached departments.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2023