The body claims it is unable to regulate the fee structures of private schools. — Dawn
The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Piera) unable to implement its own rules pertaining to the regulation of fees charged by private educational institutions and did act as a patron to schools, particularly to low cost schools, in order to improve the standard of education.
Even though there are hundreds of schools in the city, the quality of education in smaller schools in the rural areas has not been up to the mark, and in many cases the owners of these schools have not employed teachers who hold BA or B.Ed degrees. The teachers are also paid very nominal salaries, ranging from Rs8,000 to Rs10,000.
“We have conducted inspections of educational institutions, and are striving to provide patronage to all private schools to improve the quality of education,” said an official from Piera. However, he said that as far as regulating the fees of private institutions is concerned, some elite schools have obtained stay orders from the courts.
“We are trying to get the stay order vacated,” the official added.
In July this year, Peira notified its rules capping the fee structures of private schools. However, elite private schools challenged the decision and obtained stay orders in the matter.
According to its rules, the upper limit for monthly fees for matric, FA and FSc is Rs8,350, while the upper limit for O and A levels has been set at Rs12,525. If a school wishes to increase its fees, school operators have to convince the regulatory body, which will in turn determine the fees.
Private School Network President Dr Afzal Babur said that instead of imposing its rules on fee regulation, Piera should act as a patron to private schools.
“Other than a registration slip, the regulatory body is giving us nothing. Under these circumstances, why should we follow their rules,” he asked, adding that over 700 schools are operating without registration, but the regulatory body has failed to act against them.
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