LAHORE, Jan 31: The Punjab education minister has constituted a 12-member committee of the Punjab Assembly members to look into the affairs of private schools.

A notification in this regard has been issued by the Punjab education department (schools wing).

The committee, to be convened by MPA Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, is scheduled to hold its first meeting during the next week. Punjab Director Public Instruction (Elementary Education) Jameel Najam will act as secretary to the committee.

The body will work to address apprehensions of the stakeholders and to encourage private sector to play a positive role in the promotion of education in the province. It will also study the Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Rules, 1984 in vogue and the problems being faced by the parents, students and institutions. It will recommend new piece of legislation in accordance with the contemporary needs.

Since the registration and other affairs of privately-managed institutions is now the subject of district governments and the respective EDOs of education after devolution are looking after such affairs, the committee will be allowed to seek assistance from EDOs to finalize its recommendations.

However, any new induction will be made with the approval of the minister. The department has asked the committee to formulate its recommendations and submit report to the minister within a month's time.

The committee comprises MPAs Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan (convener), Chaudhry Nazar Husain Gondal, Muhammad Arshad, Aftab Ahmad Khan, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Syed Ehsanullah Waqas, Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari, Abdul Rashid Bhatti, Ijaz Ahmad Schole, Brig Muhammad Hassan (retired), Humaira Awais and Dr Anjum Amjad.

The department has notified seven co-opted official members. They are: additional education secretary (general); DPI colleges, Punjab; DPI secondary education, Punjab; DPI elementary education, Punjab; EDO (education), Lahore; deputy secretary (academic) of higher education wing; and deputy secretary (academic) of school education wing.