New man on the job: Private schools authority gets permanent head finally
The position has been lying vacant for over two years
Contractual teachers of different schools stage a sit-in at D-Chowk on Wednesday. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The prime minister has appointed a grade-20 officer from the Pakistan Administrative Service as the new chairperson of the regulatory body for private educational institutes.
Musaddiq Ahmad Khan will be heading the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), according to a notification issued on Wednesday.
Khan has served in the cabinet division and as joint secretary in the ministry of water and power.
His appointment marks the end of the body’s wait for a full-time head. The position remained vacant for over two years.
PIERA’s last chief was Atif Kayani, who completed his four-year term in June 10, 2013. Since then, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has been running the body on an ad-hoc basis.
The authority is supposed to regulate some 1,200 private schools and colleges in the capital, with dozens more awaiting registration with it.
Former CADD joint secretary Omar Hameed, and later another JS, were appointed to head the body on additional charge basis.
PEIRA has often been criticised for having no significant authority over the regulation of private institutes. Earlier, the PM House had directed PEIRA to formulate new rules, or amend existing ones, regarding appointments of teachers, teacher salaries and fee structures.
Last month, the Establishment Division issued a notification regarding the qualifications for the post of chairperson. The notification read that the appointment will be for three years instead of four.
About the appointment of PEIRA members, the notification said candidates should have a master’s degree in education and a minimum of five years teaching experience in grade-18 or above. Similarly, the members will be appointed for an initial period of three years in grade-19.
Currently, the two PEIRA members are Imtiaz Qureshi and Waqas Mahmood Kiani, who were appointed in 2010 in grade-19.
CADD Secretary Khalid Hanif confirmed the appointment and hoped that the permanent head will help resolve issues faced by the body.
PEIRA has been criticised for its role during September’s fee hike saga, when some private schools went ahead and increased fees by amounts which parents deemed unfair.
The PM then directed all institutions to rescind the fee hike or adjust the increase against future fees payable to assuage the angst of parents and guardians, who had taken to the streets in protest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2015.
The prime minister has appointed a grade-20 officer from the Pakistan Administrative Service as the new chairperson of the regulatory body for private educational institutes.
Musaddiq Ahmad Khan will be heading the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), according to a notification issued on Wednesday.
Khan has served in the cabinet division and as joint secretary in the ministry of water and power.
His appointment marks the end of the body’s wait for a full-time head. The position remained vacant for over two years.
PIERA’s last chief was Atif Kayani, who completed his four-year term in June 10, 2013. Since then, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has been running the body on an ad-hoc basis.
The authority is supposed to regulate some 1,200 private schools and colleges in the capital, with dozens more awaiting registration with it.
Former CADD joint secretary Omar Hameed, and later another JS, were appointed to head the body on additional charge basis.
PEIRA has often been criticised for having no significant authority over the regulation of private institutes. Earlier, the PM House had directed PEIRA to formulate new rules, or amend existing ones, regarding appointments of teachers, teacher salaries and fee structures.
Last month, the Establishment Division issued a notification regarding the qualifications for the post of chairperson. The notification read that the appointment will be for three years instead of four.
About the appointment of PEIRA members, the notification said candidates should have a master’s degree in education and a minimum of five years teaching experience in grade-18 or above. Similarly, the members will be appointed for an initial period of three years in grade-19.
Currently, the two PEIRA members are Imtiaz Qureshi and Waqas Mahmood Kiani, who were appointed in 2010 in grade-19.
CADD Secretary Khalid Hanif confirmed the appointment and hoped that the permanent head will help resolve issues faced by the body.
PEIRA has been criticised for its role during September’s fee hike saga, when some private schools went ahead and increased fees by amounts which parents deemed unfair.
The PM then directed all institutions to rescind the fee hike or adjust the increase against future fees payable to assuage the angst of parents and guardians, who had taken to the streets in protest.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2015.