Private schools protest heavy fines

Association alleges inspections impose undue costs

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and the Civil Defence Department have issued notices to more than 3,000 private schools across the district, asking them to obtain commercial building plans instead of conducting building fitness inspections in the name of safety checks.

The Civil Defence Department has also started imposing fines exceeding Rs100,000 on individual schools for not having commercial building plans, effectively abandoning the original objective of building fitness inspections.

The move has triggered protests by the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA).

The association's president, along with a delegation, approached Additional Deputy Commissioner Social Services Fazail Mudassar with notices issued by the Municipal Corporation and Civil Defence and held a meeting with her.

During the meeting, the delegation expressed serious reservations over notices issued to private educational institutions by Civil Defence officials and the alleged collection of hefty fees for issuing fitness certificates.

The association demanded immediate notice of the conduct of the relevant staff and an inquiry into the legal provisions, rules or authorisations under which large sums were being demanded for the issuance of fitness certificates.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Social Services Fazail Mudassar listened to the concerns and assured the delegation that the matter would be examined.

APPSMA President Abrar Ahmed Khan said the basic purpose of the teams constituted to inspect the building safety of private educational institutions was to examine structural conditions and safety arrangements to ensure a secure educational environment for students and teachers.

However, he said, demands for commercial building plans by the Tehsil Municipal Administration and hefty fees allegedly sought by Civil Defence staff for issuing fitness certificates under the pretext of these inspections were creating unnecessary financial burdens and serious concerns for private educational institutions.

He said building safety inspections should not become a means for different departments to impose additional financial demands and initiate unnecessary proceedings.

If an institution lacked adequate safety arrangements, the shortcomings should be identified and the administration should provide guidance and reasonable time to address them in accordance with the law, rather than pressuring educational institutions through unclear fees and notices.

The association also urged the Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi to take immediate notice of the matter, issue clear instructions to the relevant departments, prevent illegal or unauthorised collections and stop the alleged harassment of private educational institutions without justification.

The association president said private educational institutions were playing an important role in promoting education and fulfilling national educational responsibilities.

The government should adopt a cooperative and facilitative approach towards these institutions so that educational activities could continue uninterrupted while providing children with a safe and quality learning environment.