Private schools challenge directives to cut 20% school fees

Petition filed in IHC argues that PEIRA notification was issued without consulting stakeholders

ISLAMABAD: Private schools in the federal capital have baulked at the government’s directions to offer a 20 per cent concession in tuition fees to parents during the lockdown, mandated by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, and have filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging it.

The Private Schools Association (PSA) filed a petition before the IHC in which they listed the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) as respondents.

A single-member bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Amir Farooq, is expected to hear the petition today (Monday).

The petition read that PEIRA had issued a circular on April 8, in which it directed private educational institutions in the federal capital to grant 20 per cent concession in tuition fees for April and May amidst the lockdown.

It further said that the authority had instructed private schools to charge fees every month rather than advanced fees for two months.

The petitioners pleaded that the court to repeal the PEIRA’s notification as the decision was taken without consulting the stakeholders.

Moreover, a separate petition was also filed in IHC on Sunday in which the court has been urged to issue a stay order against the related circular immediately.

The PIERA had directed the private schools in the federal capital 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.

The PEIRA notification had listed new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for private educational institutions (PEIs) – from primary up to the higher secondary or equivalent level.

Schools have been shut down in the federal capital until May 31 as part of precautionary measures instituted by the federal government against Covid-19. This period will be treated as summer vacations.

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

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.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2020.