Fundamental failure: Govt using private schools as scapegoats: petitioners

Schools’ counsels say govt absolving itself of responsibility to provide free, quality education.

ISLAMABAD: The government is trying to transfer the blame for its failure to provide free-of-cost quality education onto the shoulders of private educational institutes, counsels representing two leading private sector schools argued before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday.

In a case challenging the federal government’s decision to restrain private schools from increasing fees during the current academic year, The City School and Beaconhouse School System (CSS) through their counsels — Asma Jahangir and Shahid Hamid, respectively — concluded their arguments before Justice Aamer Farooq.

The other parties in the case would begin presenting their arguments from the next hearing. Peira Secretary Javed Iqbal has submitted replies to 11 of 20 petitions filed so far.

Initially, two private schools – The City School and the Beaconhouse School – had filed petitions but now a total of 20 petitioners have come forward. Barrister Qasim Wadood would be representing parents of several students enrolled in various schools.

The City School and the Beaconhouse School through their counsel - Asma Jahangir and Shahid Hamid –had approached the court challenging the federal government’s notification of September 23 directing the private educational institutes to withdraw raise in tuition fee.

In the petition filed by The City School, Jahangir stated that the notification had prohibited the petitioner from increasing fees without the permission of the authority established through the Peira, which was illegal and arbitrary. Both counsels argued that the restrictions imposed on the petitioners were in violation of Article 18 of the constitution.

They argued that the government had miserably failed to adhere to its constitutional obligation to provide free education to children, adding that the government was trying to transfer the burden of its failure on the shoulders of private educational institutes.

No notice was issued to the petitioners before the notification was issued and no attempt was made to check whether or not the increases were in line with previous increments, Hamid said.

They also said that the notification had been passed without any consultation with stakeholders, while publicising meetings with a handful of agitating parents.

The court later adjourned till December 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th,  2015.