For partner schools: ‘Comprehensive payment system formulated’

PEF MD says ensuring students’ safety foremost priority.

LAHORE: The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has directed partner schools to provide fitness certificates of their premises after getting them examined by the relevant authority, PEF MD Tariq Mahmood said on Tuesday.

The PEF MD made the remarks while chairing a meeting convened to look into affairs across the foundation’s partner schools. Mahmood directed partner schools to comply with the foundation’s policies and ensure the provision of information to facilitate the timely disbursal of monthly payments. “The PEF has designed a comprehensive payment system for its partner schools,” he said. Mahmood said partner schools were required to register schools with relevant Education EDO offices and provide a copy of the registration certificate to the PEF for its record.



He said all schools that were in the process of getting themselves registered should strive to have it done without further ado and submit proof to the foundation. Those present on the occasion were informed that the PEF had already sent letters to partner schools exhorting them to do the needful by January 31.

The PEF MD said the safety of students and teachers was the top priority of the foundation and no compromise would be made on building quality standards of partner schools. Those present were informed that the annual census of partner schools had commenced and they had been asked to provide details using the PEF website.

They also took notice of printing of helping material with regard to the annual Quality Assurance Tests (QATs) and called the practice illegal. Those present were told that the PEF was not responsible for such material and it reserved the right to initiate legal proceedings against those involved in criminal activities of the nature.

They also directed partner schools to desist from coercing students from procuring such material for passing the QAT. Those present were also told that the PEF had been playing an active role in realising Parho Punjab Barho Punjab aims.

Separately, the PEF has started imparting training to new partner schools on handling the Student Information System (SIS) in Lahore and Multan. Thee partner schools had been selected during expansion phase 15 of the foundation’s Education Voucher Scheme (EVS).

According to a PEF spokesman, a training session had been arranged at the PEF Multan Regional Office for school owners from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Lodhran, Rajanpur, Khanewal and Muzaffargarh. He said the owners of the new partner schools in Faisalabad, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Jhang and Khushab would be trained at Lahore’s Children’s Library Complex from Wednesday onwards.

The spokesman said the partner schools would have to submit the students’ details to the PEF which would then disburse monthly dues after physical verification. The students would also get free textbooks from the PEF, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2016.