ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Tuesday showed concerns over non-implementation of the mandatory 10pc quota for free education in private schools and directed the education ministry to ensure strict enforcement in this regard.
Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, which met with Senator Bushra Anjum Butt in the chair, discussed besides other agenda items, the non-implementation of the said quota.
Expressing concern over incomplete data and weak implementation, the committee chairperson directed the relevant authorities [Ministry of Education and Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority] to ensure strict enforcement of the quota.
She also proposed introducing incentives, including performance certificates, for schools demonstrating effective compliance.
It is relevant to note here that private schools of Islamabad were reportedly pocketing billion of rupees annually by failing to implement a mandatory said 10pc quota for deserving students.
During the course of the meeting, officials informed the committee that Peira had a monitoring mechanism in place; however, data from a number of schools was still awaited. The committee was also informed that the eligibility criteria had been expanded to include registered out-of-school children.
Meanwhile, the committee considered ‘Iqra Global University Bill, 2026’. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) raised certain objections and recommended that the proposed legislation be routed through the committee headed by the deputy prime minister after addressing deficiencies identified by the HEC.
Following detailed deliberations, the committee approved the bill while directing that all HEC requirements be fulfilled in accordance with the revised procedure.
Meanwhile, the committee also reviewed the issue of non-attestation of degrees awarded by certain universities. The HEC informed members that a new scrutiny committee has been constituted and that the matter would be decided upon submission of its report.
The chairperson expressed dissatisfaction over prolonged delays and directed the HEC to expedite the process. She assured affected degree holders of the committee’s full support in resolving the longstanding issue.
The committee was also briefed by the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) regarding allegations of paper leakages in Cambridge A-Level examinations. The affected students presented their concerns and shared findings regarding possible leaks and their impact.
The committee chairperson appreciated the students’ efforts in highlighting the issue and directed IBCC to establish a committee with representation from affected students. She further urged IBCC to engage with Cambridge authorities to ensure a fair resolution and safeguard students’ rights.
The committee also examined issues relating to the policy framework for visually impaired persons.
Expressing displeasure over the failure to implement previous committee directives regarding stakeholder consultations, the chairperson directed the director general Special Education to engage all parties concerned and resolve outstanding issues under the supervision of the additional secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
Additionally, the committee received a briefing on a proposed initiative by volunteers from Karachi aimed at promoting financial literacy among young people. Appreciating the initiative, the chairperson directed the education secretary and the HEC executive director to facilitate coordination between the volunteers and educational institutions, enabling financial literacy sessions in schools and universities across the country.
Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026
