Community schools’ closure: SC reserves verdict, asks govt to pay salaries
AG says existence of ghost schools one of the project’s drawbacks.
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the closure of community schools and directed the government to pay teachers their salaries.
The court expressed its annoyance over the finance secretary’s failure to submit a comprehensive report on how much of the Rs66 billion collected as Iqra tax the government spent on education. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, was hearing petitions filed against the closure of basic education community schools after devolution. More than 15,000 teachers of basic education community schools have not been paid their salaries since July. Teachers maintain that the federal government cannot be absolved of responsibility since the constitution guarantees the right to education to every child between 8 and 16 years of age.
During the course of hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Anwarul Haq informed the court that the National Commission for Human Development and community schools were devolved to the provinces in light of the 18th amendment. He said the existence of ghost schools was one of the drawbacks of the project.
The chief justice asked the AGP to point out a single corruption-free institution. “Nobody makes the effort to rectify matters.” He regretted that despite summons, the concerned officers were reluctant to appear before the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2011.
The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the closure of community schools and directed the government to pay teachers their salaries.
The court expressed its annoyance over the finance secretary’s failure to submit a comprehensive report on how much of the Rs66 billion collected as Iqra tax the government spent on education. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez, was hearing petitions filed against the closure of basic education community schools after devolution. More than 15,000 teachers of basic education community schools have not been paid their salaries since July. Teachers maintain that the federal government cannot be absolved of responsibility since the constitution guarantees the right to education to every child between 8 and 16 years of age.
During the course of hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Anwarul Haq informed the court that the National Commission for Human Development and community schools were devolved to the provinces in light of the 18th amendment. He said the existence of ghost schools was one of the drawbacks of the project.
The chief justice asked the AGP to point out a single corruption-free institution. “Nobody makes the effort to rectify matters.” He regretted that despite summons, the concerned officers were reluctant to appear before the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2011.