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KARACHI, Aug 22: The provincial education department has framed rules to regulate private sector educational institutions under the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Ordinance 2001.
Under the rules, called the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Rules 2002, all privately managed institutions have to get themselves registered with the competent authority and submit the application on form ‘A,’ accompanied by documents mentioned therein and the fee mentioned in the schedule. The application form can be obtained from the registering authority on payment of the fee prescribed by the government. The fee shall be non-refundable.
No registration fee shall be charged from institutions located in rural or urban slum areas being run on a non-profit basis.
The certificate of registration shall be issued for a period of five years, which may be renewed on the payment of fees as determined by the registering authority with the approval of the government.
The registering authority shall constitute an inspection committee having at least three members each from the education department, general public and association of private schools, if any. One of the members shall be nominated as chairman of the committee. The committee shall enquire about the suitability of the location of the institution, premises, accommodation, furniture, equipment, adequacy of technical staff, details of arrangements for compulsory physical training, adoption of courses of study prescribed or approved by the competent authority, standard of education, standard of discipline and suitability of tuition fee and subscriptions charged from students.
The certificate of registration shall be granted after consideration of the report of the committee. The institution shall furnish to the registering authority the audit report and a report on the working curricular activities of the institution each year.
On receipt of any complaint or information regarding a dispute arising between an institution and parents or guardian of a student, or between the institution and its teachers or other staff, the registering authority shall constitute an enquiry committee comprising of members from civil society and officers of the education department to enquire into the dispute and submit its findings alongwith recommendations within 30 days. The registering authority, on receipt of the report, shall pass orders as deemed fit.
The rules further provide that the pay scales of teaching staff and non-teaching staff, allowances, leave facilities and other benefits shall be at least commensurate with the pay and allowances admissible to such staff in government institutions and deviation — if any — shall be subject to approval of the registering authority.
An institution shall allow concessions to deserving students and award scholarships to students having meritorious records.
DIRECTIVE ISSUED: No corporal punishment in any form can be administered to students, a directive issued by the Sindh education department said. The directive has been incorporated in the form for the certificate of registration.
Every institution will have to form a parent-teacher association.
No institute can get itself affiliated or work in collaboration with a foreign institute without approval of the government.
No person of foreign origin can be appointed to any post or admitted to an institute without prior approval of the government.
The institute will observe the time table and duration of studies submitted along with the application of registration, and a change will immediately be intimated to the registering authority for information and approval.
No discrimination will be made on the basis of religion, sex, sect, colour, income or language while admitting the student.
It was stated that the annual registration or renewal of registration fee of an educational institution will be equal to one month tuition fee charged by the institution at its highest tier class.
The fee is to be deposited with the State Bank of Pakistan/ National Bank or the district treasury under the “head 1251-education miscellaneous receipts,” and the receipted copy of the challan will be attached to the application.
NOTIFICATION: The education department has also notified officers to act as the registering authority for private sector educational institutions.
According to the notification issued here on Thursday, the executive district officer (education) concerned will be the competent authority for the registration of institutions from montessori upto class VIII; institutions of intermediate and degree level affiliated with any authorized institutions including ‘A’ level, oriental studies and teachers training institutions or any other institutions of the same level; institutions of technical, vocational, commercial and IT.
The provincial secretary education will be the registering authority for degree awarding institute and universities including institutions having academic linkage/foreign collaborations/ affiliation, with any other institutions of higher learning and teachers training.—PPI/APP
