Sindh Assembly session: PTI MPA decries exorbitant increase in school fee

Nisar Khuhro calls it 'genuine' issue but refuses to take up motion as it wasn’t moved 'as per rules'.

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Khurrum Sher Zaman cried foul against the private schools in Karachi that are increasing school tuition fees at exorbitant rates every year. He moved an adjournmen motion regarding the issue during the Sindh Assembly session on Thursday.

"Every year, they increase the tuition fee," said Zaman. "The education department had earlier announced to take action but all in vain and there is no one to restrict them. This is a shameful act in respect of the noble profession of imparting education. I request you to allow my adjournment motion to discuss this issue in the assembly."



Parliamentary Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro called it a genuine issue but said that the adjournment motion has not been moved as per rules, hence, cannot be taken up. Education Minister Jam Mahtab Dar assured the PTI lawmaker that he will take up the issue with private schools' management. "I have convened a meeting with all the private schools next week on teaching Holy Quran and will discuss this matter with them as well," he said, adding that his department will not let any school to violate the mechanism for increasing fee. Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani said that not only schools, private tutors are also increase tuition fee following the schools' policy. "This is a serious issue and it should be condemned," he remarked.

Mayor visits assembly

Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhar also visited the assembly and witnessed the proceedings. Opposition Leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan requested the Sindh government to give powers to the local bodies' elected representatives. "We want to play a role of bridge between Sindh government and Karachi mayor," he said. "Please give him powers so that he can work in the city, which is also the city of Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto and all others sitting here."

Responding to this, Khuhro said that powers have already been given to the Karachi mayor and his counterparts in Sindh. "We are not against local government system but powers can be given as per law," he said, adding that city nazims were given extra powers in Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf's tenure and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement wants the same powers for mayor, which is not possible. "Everyone should work under his/her domain and extra powers cannot be given," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2016.