RAWALPINDI: District Education Authority on Saturday issued notices to 14 private educational institutions in Pirwadhai area for conducting examinations from March 20 to 22 in violation of the government’s directive.

According to the letter issued by the District Education Authority on March 3, all the government and private schools had been directed not to conduct examinations during March 20 to 22 in view of OIC foreign ministers conference.

On Saturday, the Chief Executive Officer of District Education Authority Mohammad Azam Kashif issued show cause notices to 14 private educational institutions of Pirwadhai for non-compliance with orders of district administration and summoned the office on March 28.

The CEO education sought written reply from the educational institutions under Section No D-12 of the Punjab Private Educational Act. Under the Punjab Private Educational Act, CEO Education has the power to impose a fine of Rs300,000 to Rs4 million.

On the other hand, All Pakistan Private School Management Association President Ibrar Ahmed Khan asked the education authority not to take any action against private schools as they were already suffering from education and financial losses due to Covid-19 during the last two years.

Furthermore, he said since the educational institutions did not receive any directives officially, they conducted the exam. He said the letter was circulated in Whatsapp groups only.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2022