Capital’s private schools told to give 20% fee concession

PEIRA says combined fee challans for April, May to be replaced with fresh ones

ISLAMABAD: Private schools in the federal capital were directed on Wednesday to give a concession of at least 20 per cent in their monthly tuition fees for April and May.

Moreover, schools were strictly directed to only collect fees monthly and not charge advance fees for the two months together.

A notification to this effect was issued by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) on Wednesday listing new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for private educational institutions (PEIs) - up to higher secondary or equivalent level - during this period and directing them to ensure the implementation of the new directions. Schools have been closed in the federal capital until May 31 as part of precautionary measures instituted by the federal government against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). This period is to be treated as summer vacations at the educational institutions in the city.

The notification read that the concession must be granted “as a financial relief to the parents or guardians [of students] due to suspension of business and related activities [as a] result of a nation-wide lockdown owing to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.”

Reiterating that fees must only be collected on a monthly basis instead of a combined, advanced payment for the two months, the notification added that “any fee challan (if already issued) in violation of this policy, may be cancelled and fresh fee challans for fee collection on monthly basis to be issued accordingly.”

PEIRA, in its notification, also came to the aid of the teaching and non-teaching staff working at these educational institutions, barring PEIs from terminating their staff.

“Services of all staff members working in PEls (including teaching and non-teaching) not to be terminated and staff salaries to be paid on a regular basis,” the notification read.

Regarding the upcoming cycles of examinations for Cambridge International on Examinations (CIE) in May and subsequently, in October, PEIRA said that students may be permitted to attend them per CIE’s policy.

The remaining students, the notification said, “may be dealt as per the internal policy of the schools”.

PEIRA Chairperson Zia Batool said that the measure has been taken to ease concerns of parents in these tough times.

Batool confidently stated that private schools in the city will be able to run all their affairs, including paying salaries to staff, essential utility bills, and other expenses even with the concessionary fees they receive.

Mixed response

Private schools in the federal capital had a mixed response to the government’s decision.

Malik Abrar Hussain, who is the president of a representative body of private educational institutions, hailed PEIRA’s decision, terming it beneficial for both schools and parents.

Citing the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision regarding the fee structure of private schools, Hussain said that PEIs are empowered to collect fees from their students in light of the apex court’s orders. He added that tuition fees are their sole source of income with which they tackle their liabilities such as staff fees and rent of buildings.

However, Hussain assured that they were ready to cooperate with the government given the current circumstances.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Private Schools (NAPS) rejected PEIRA’s decision and termed it as ‘illegal’.

NAPS President Obaidullah Chaudhry said that they will raise the matter before the higher judiciary. He contended that 90 per cent of private schools in the federal capital have been established in rented premises while they had a tuition-fees dependent budget to pay the fixed salaries of their staff. He called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to announce a relief package for private schools in light of the current situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2020.