LAHORE, March 26: The Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, on Wednesday directed the education department to review the decision of abolishing the annual examination from class one to the middle.

He also took serious notice of delay in the publication of text books, and directed the relevant officials to find out a permanent solution to the problem, which creates inconvenience to the students and their parents.

Talking to a delegation of the All Private Schools Management Association, which called on him here, he said it was impossible to imbibe the spirit of competition and responsibility among students without an examination system. Therefore, he said the decision to abolish the examination up to the middle standard should be reviewed. He directed necessary recommendations should be prepared in this regard.

The chief minister announced private schools representation in the committee established for the registration of schools. He directed the officials concerned that the local tax on Toba Tek Singh schools should immediately be withdrawn.

He said the Education Foundation was being reorganized so as to extend easy loans to the private education sector. He commended the role of private schools in the promotion of education, assuring their managements that the government would encourage them in every respect.

The chief minister, however, warned that making schools mere money-minting places would not be allowed. The government was responsible to check whether the private schools were providing basic facilities to their teachers and students, he added.

He expressed concern over the traffic problems being created by private schools located in residential colonies, and asked their owners to adopt measures to resolve the issue.

The association president announced that all the private schools would provide free education to two per cent of their students. The number could be increased to 10 per cent provided the government exempt the private schools from various taxes, he said.