APROPOS ‘PA for private schools audit, tax imposition (Feb 11).’ I endorse the idea. It is time legislation is enacted making the audit of all private schools mandatory.

A regulatory authority should define the mandate, size, nature, scope and cost of the curricular and extra-curricular activities undertaken by private schools. With more than 38pc of overall enrolment in the country, private schools have turned into a lucrative enterprise.

In a recent communication, the management of a private school informed parents that the recently incurred security- related expenses would be shared with them, perhaps to avoid any resistance and protest on the part of parents.

The general practice is that school managements prefer to interact with parents on an individual basis so that an opportunity of collective voice can be denied to them. When asked why they do not encourage parents’ associations, the reply was: ‘It is not mandatory, we are only responsible to our management.”

Contrary to public-sector schools, almost all private schools observe two holidays and a half-day on Friday, besides sudden closures that are now routine.

Most elementary units established by private schools in Islamabad operate in congested buildings in residential areas, with low air ventilation. They do not have playgrounds, proper drinking water facility and separate toilets for boys and girls.

The Capital Development Authority has failed to close down and discourage such schools.

Given that education is now a commercial product, fixing minimum standards for its market value, operational procedures and quality assurance are justified as the private education sector is violating consumer rights.

Hafeeza Nawaz Samoo
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2015

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