School fee increase to be capped at 10%
Permission must be taken from the directorate of private schools for an increase exceeding 10 per cent
Permission must be taken from the directorate of private schools for an increase exceeding 10 per cent. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
No school can increase its fee by more than 10 per cent without the permission of the directorate of private schools.
This decision was taken after education minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro met the private schools association and the private schools' director-general.
After the September 17 meeting headed by Khuhro, it was mutually agreed between the Sindh government and the managements of private schools that the annual increase in school fees will be capped at 10 per cent, compared to the previous rate of five per cent.
The minister expressed concern about whether or not the September 17 decision was accepted by the private schools and protesting parents and called a meeting on Friday. In the recent meeting, the issue of many schools releasing their fee vouchers and many parents having paid the fee for August and September was raised. Khuhro said that all those schools that have already released fee vouchers for the month of August and September with increased fees will adjust the amount in October's fee.
Read: Increase in school fees forces parents onto the streets
He also announced that no private schools will be allowed to charge more than a 10 per cent increase in fees without the permission of the directorate of private schools. "The law is equal for all, no matter what scale the school works on it will not be allowed to increase its fee more than 10 per cent," he said. Khuhro said the 18th Amendment allows the province to make such decisions.
A five member monitoring committee has been formed, to be headed by the director-general of private schools, Khuhro announced. The committee will monitor and pay surprise visits to all private schools from Monday and will make sure no school is charging more than the stipulated 10 per cent increase in fee. The registration will be cancelled of schools that do not follow the order.
He also said a complaint cell has been set up at the director-general private school's office, where parents can register complaints regarding fee hikes in schools. Representatives from Cambridge schools were also present at the meeting and agreed to the 10 per cent fee increase and the adjustment in October.
Read: Centre, Punjab asked to submit replies
The chairperson of the All Private Schools Management Association Sindh, Syed Khalid Shah, said that the decision was not acceptable for all, which is why the minister announced that no school will be allowed to increase its fee by more than 10 per cent without the directorate's permission.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2015.
No school can increase its fee by more than 10 per cent without the permission of the directorate of private schools.
This decision was taken after education minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro met the private schools association and the private schools' director-general.
After the September 17 meeting headed by Khuhro, it was mutually agreed between the Sindh government and the managements of private schools that the annual increase in school fees will be capped at 10 per cent, compared to the previous rate of five per cent.
The minister expressed concern about whether or not the September 17 decision was accepted by the private schools and protesting parents and called a meeting on Friday. In the recent meeting, the issue of many schools releasing their fee vouchers and many parents having paid the fee for August and September was raised. Khuhro said that all those schools that have already released fee vouchers for the month of August and September with increased fees will adjust the amount in October's fee.
Read: Increase in school fees forces parents onto the streets
He also announced that no private schools will be allowed to charge more than a 10 per cent increase in fees without the permission of the directorate of private schools. "The law is equal for all, no matter what scale the school works on it will not be allowed to increase its fee more than 10 per cent," he said. Khuhro said the 18th Amendment allows the province to make such decisions.
A five member monitoring committee has been formed, to be headed by the director-general of private schools, Khuhro announced. The committee will monitor and pay surprise visits to all private schools from Monday and will make sure no school is charging more than the stipulated 10 per cent increase in fee. The registration will be cancelled of schools that do not follow the order.
He also said a complaint cell has been set up at the director-general private school's office, where parents can register complaints regarding fee hikes in schools. Representatives from Cambridge schools were also present at the meeting and agreed to the 10 per cent fee increase and the adjustment in October.
Read: Centre, Punjab asked to submit replies
The chairperson of the All Private Schools Management Association Sindh, Syed Khalid Shah, said that the decision was not acceptable for all, which is why the minister announced that no school will be allowed to increase its fee by more than 10 per cent without the directorate's permission.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2015.