Fee hike case: Regulatory body tells private schools to refund fees
PEIRA claims schools not contesting authority’s rules
PEIRA claims schools not contesting authority’s rules PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The regulatory authority for private schools on Monday informed a court that the petitioning private schools had challenged the government’s notification and not the rules of the authority. In addition, the regulator’s counsel called for schools to refund the increased fee amount to parents.
The counsel for Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), Aftab Alam Rana justified the authority’s stance by stating that the schools had only challenged the federal government’s decision, and not the rules and regulations of PEIRA. He also said private schools should return or adjust the increased fee amount to paying parents.
The case was heard by a single bench comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq.
Various private schools have challenged the government’s decision to restrict an increase in their school fees during the current academic year.
The respondents – the federal government along with some parents and students – will continue to argue the case.
The counsels for private schools have been arguing that the government has failed to adhere to its constitutional obligation of providing free education to children.
Further, they added that the respondents cannot constitutionally deprive petitioners of their right to charge fees fixed by them without subsidy if they wish to enforce a policy decision.
They had also argued that the notification was passed without any consultation with stakeholders while publicising meetings with a handful of agitating parents.
Initially, The City School and the Beaconhouse School through their counsels, Asma Jahangir and Shahid Hamid, had approached the Islamabad High Court challenging the government’s September 23 notification, directing private educational institutions to withdraw increased tuition fees.
The government issued directives to either refund the amount charged from students, or adjust it to the next payable fee.
Following the arguments, the court directed the respondents to present their arguments and adjourned the case till February 9.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2016.
The regulatory authority for private schools on Monday informed a court that the petitioning private schools had challenged the government’s notification and not the rules of the authority. In addition, the regulator’s counsel called for schools to refund the increased fee amount to parents.
The counsel for Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), Aftab Alam Rana justified the authority’s stance by stating that the schools had only challenged the federal government’s decision, and not the rules and regulations of PEIRA. He also said private schools should return or adjust the increased fee amount to paying parents.
The case was heard by a single bench comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq.
Various private schools have challenged the government’s decision to restrict an increase in their school fees during the current academic year.
The respondents – the federal government along with some parents and students – will continue to argue the case.
The counsels for private schools have been arguing that the government has failed to adhere to its constitutional obligation of providing free education to children.
Further, they added that the respondents cannot constitutionally deprive petitioners of their right to charge fees fixed by them without subsidy if they wish to enforce a policy decision.
They had also argued that the notification was passed without any consultation with stakeholders while publicising meetings with a handful of agitating parents.
Initially, The City School and the Beaconhouse School through their counsels, Asma Jahangir and Shahid Hamid, had approached the Islamabad High Court challenging the government’s September 23 notification, directing private educational institutions to withdraw increased tuition fees.
The government issued directives to either refund the amount charged from students, or adjust it to the next payable fee.
Following the arguments, the court directed the respondents to present their arguments and adjourned the case till February 9.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2016.