KARACHI, Feb 21: The All-Private Schools Management Association Sindh on Tuesday demanded the government to review its decision of taking composite exams of classes 9th and 10th from 2007, saying otherwise schools would be compelled to get themselves registered with the Aga Khan University Examination Board.

“The AKUEB has announced to take separate exams of classes 9th and 10th from the next academic session. As we are opposed to the decision of taking composite exams, we appeal to the federal and provincial governments to review their decision or schools would be compelled to register themselves with the AKUEB,” the APSMAS Chairman, Syed Khalid Shah, told a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.

Other APSMAS office bearers Shaheen Qaseemuddin, Asma Bano, Syed Ibne-Hasan Shah, Muhammad Asif Khan, Ghulam Abbas Baloch, Imtiaz Hussain, Rao Safdar, Waris Shah and others were also present there.

Mr Khalid maintained that all associations of private schools should register with the society registrar. He said he had decided to approach the society registrar to check unregistered societies, hold referendum among associations and declare elected associations representative of private schools for the next five years.

He also criticized the education department for issuing orders for not collecting fees of summer vacations in advance, saying schools’ management ran their financial affairs with fees received from children in advance during summer vacations.

The APSMAS chairman demanded the governor, chief minister and Sindh education minister to conduct separate exams of classes 9th and 10th from the academic session 2005-06, start next academic session from April 2006, summer vacations in June and July, and take all decisions regarding private schools in consultation with the APSMAS.

He also announced that all private schools would start the next academic session from Aug 1, 2006 so that Independence Day could be celebrated with national zeal and fervour on Aug 14.

He also thanked private schools for closing their institutions on Feb 17, 2006 on the association’s appeal to condemn the publication of the blasphemous caricatures in European newspapers.—PPI