Karachi private school owners decide to appeal

Minister warns against violation of SHC order

KARACHI: Private schools owners have decided to approach the Supreme Court (SC) to appeal against the verdict of the Sindh High Court (SHC) that barred schools from increasing tuition fees beyond 5% per annum. However, the Provincial Minister for Education Sardar Shah warned schools that violation of the court order would lead to cancellation of their registration.



Meanwhile, the SC on Tuesday decided to club all pending petitions against fee hikes by private educational institutions and begin hearing the case on October 4.

As the private school owners plan to file appeals in apex court, parents are worried about how long it will take for the issue to resolve permanently. Parents of children studying in private schools expressed their concern as they flocked to Karachi Press Club earlier this month to register their protest in a press conference against the non-implementation of the high court's orders.

Speaking on the occasion, Faisal Siddiqui, Talha Rana, Danish Idress and Seema Butt representing the victims said that the parents had approached the court to get justice and after the case remained unresolved for months, the verdict was finally passed in their favour on September 3. The court ruled that private schools could not increase more than 5% annually in their fees and ordered the schools to refund or adjust the excess fee that had already been paid. "Despite this ruling, school owners refuse to comply with the orders," remarked the parents saying that during the past few years, "A-class" private schools in Karachi have been increasing the fees on their own whims.

"These private schools increase the tuition fees at their own discretion and further charge an exorbitant amount in admission fee. They also burden parents with payables such as annual charges, security deposits, library fees, lab fees and other unwarranted funds," said the parents, requesting the authorities to ensure that schools abide by the court's ruling and adjust their fees accordingly.



On the other side, Minister Shah said, "Those schools that do not comply with court orders will have their registration cancelled," he warned and advised all private schools to refund or adjust the fee collected in addition to the permitted amount in the upcoming months.

Shah also reminded the violators that they are bound to accept court orders and those in violation may get their schools blacklisted. "Fines and imprisonment up to five years may be awarded to those in violation," he said, adding that private schools will not be allowed to act without any check and balance. He assured that the government stood with the parents. "Private schools sign an agreement with the provincial education department and tender an affidavit for complying with the terms and conditions. However, private school owners seem to engage in gross violations of their contract. As per the affidavit, every private school must ensure free education for 10% of its students but they rarely comply with this condition," Shah explained.

On September 11, Sindh Education and Literacy Department issued a circular reminding the private schools of the court ruling regarding school fees. The Sindh Private Institutions Director General Mansoob Siddiqui said that the court order was applicable to all private schools in the province and they must immediately act accordingly or else their registration would be cancelled.

However, he said, some private schools have contacted us in person and intimated their intention to appeal. It is up to them to challenge the verdict in any court but the current ruling applies to all private schools, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2018.