Over 70 private schools in Rawalpindi served notices

RAWALPINDI: Education authorities in Rawalpindi have issued notices to over 70 private schools for failing to comply with a government order to shut educational institutes from May 24.

The Punjab government previously issued an order directing public and private educational institutes to observe summer vacations from May 24 after a blistering heatwave in most parts of the country earlier in the same month. Officials wanted to avoid exposing children to the risk of sunstroke and dehydration.

An official said that the district education office (schools) has also taken notice of complaints against some private schools which have collected summer fees (June to August) in advance in violation of the government order, which bars collecting summer fees in one lump sum.

The official said that the show cause notices were issued to  schools after they remained open in violation of the government order.

He said that cases of many schools had been disposed after their administrations submitted written replies to the executive district officer (EDO) education.

The official said that the district coordination officer has also summoned the heads of 15 different private schools on June 13 for hearings after receiving complaints.

All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association President Abrar Ahmed Khan confirmed that several private schools had received show cause notices from the education department. He said that cases of most schools had already been settled.

He said that the association had also moved the Lahore High Court against the Punjab government’s order for early summer breaks. He said that the petition was still pending in court, and that the remaining (open) schools have already announced summer vacation schedules.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2016.