PESHAWAR, March 3: Authorities in the NWFP have temporarily allowed private schools to conduct examinations in accordance with the old syllabus, officials said on Friday. The decision will not apply to private schools in the quake-affected areas.

The decision was taken in a meeting held here on Friday under provincial Education Minister Maulana Fazle Ali Haqqani.

The old syllabus will be used only for the current academic year. In the next academic year, institutions will be required to follow the new academic schedule already announced by the government.

This concession is meant for private schools only and both government schools as well as private schools located in the quake-affected areas, will conduct examinations as per the new schedule.

Friday’s meeting was attended by school officials, representatives of the provincial literacy department and office holders of the Private Educational Institutions’ Management Association (Peima).

The association’s representatives expressed gratitude to the minister for allowing them to conduct examinations in March this year and noted that there was unanimous agreement on implementing the government decision on the new academic session.

The minister said the government did not want to introduce its decisions by force but alleged that certain vested interest groups in the guise of a private schools association wanted to create obstacles for the government and forward their political agenda.

He said the government reserved the right to take action against those who were trying to defame both private schools and the government and advised such elements to confine their criticism to the education sector and refrain from playing into the hands of political blocs.

Referring to the new syllabus and vacations schedule, the minister assured the delegation that the government would welcome the private schools’ proposals and would show flexibility in this regard and believe in taking decisions with mutual consultation and amicable solution of genuine demands.

Members of the delegation thanked the minister for giving them a patient hearing and showing indifference to statements appearing in a section of the press against the new academic schedule and vacations. They also assured all out support to the government in this regard.