Education minister takes notice of private schools’ pressure

Parents irate as schools demand four months’ fees

QUETTA: Following complaints of parents about private schools demanding four-month fee in advance, Balochistan Minister for Secondary Education Yar Muhammad Rind on Sunday took notice of the issue and called for report from authorities concerned.

Various parents accompanied with their children had reached Quetta Press Club on Saturday to reveal the pressure from private school administration asking them to pay four-month fee in advance.

The provincial minister vowed to announce a policy soon related to the issue, saying the government was aware of difficulties faced by parents during the prevailing situation. He said report has been called from officials concerned and soon a comprehensive policy would be announced on the issue.

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus across the country, Balochistan had closed educational activities in the province in order to contain the virus. However, administration of various private schools in provincial capital sent messages to parents to pay the stated fee.

The parents, who were talking to journalists outside the premises of the club, as it was closed due to the threat of the deadly contagion, called the initiative of the schools unfair.

“Lockdown has been imposed across the country with no one assured of receiving salaries for the month as mostly people are not performing regular office duties. Despite the grim situation, the schools are demanding four-month fee which is unfair,” said a parent, urging the provincial government to take action against the schools demanding fee.

The parent noted that the school administrations have to pay two-month salaries to the staff for which they demand four-month fee from parents.

After recording their complaint, the parents urged the Balochistan High Court to take immediate notice of the unfair initiative of the schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2020.