RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: Private educational institutions owners have warned that they will extend their ongoing protest campaign against unjust policies of provincial government at the divisional level, if their demands didn’t accept forthwith.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, the Chairman National Education Council, Nazar Hussain clarified that the protest drive was not against decision of Peshawar High Court, but it has launched to condemn the unilateral policies imposed on private education sector in the province.

He added that it was attempt to divert attention of provincial government towards issues of educational institutions.

Nazar Hussain termed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Act 2017 authoritarian law, which should either abolish or make certain amendments in it before the completion of incumbent provincial government tenure.

He said the formation of all educational boards, except Abbottabad board was against the Secondary Education Board Election rules. He said the representation of private sector is blocked in the educational boards, which was clear violation of the rules.

Schools Association president, Ahmad Ali Darwish, Chairman Fata Education Council, Murtaza Hussain, Turabiya International Schools System President Farooq Sadiq, Private Education Assocaiton President Rab Nawaz Khan and others were present during the press conference. NEC chairman said the Peshawar High Court had issued order to enhance only 3 percent tuition fees in private educational institutions, while the KP Private Schools Regulatory Act has allowed to make increase up to 10 percent. So, he said there was huge contradiction between superior court decision and KP Assembly Act, which should be cleared immediately.

“How can private educational institutions manage to payout building rents and salaries of teaching staffs, in case of implementation of provincial government decision to charge half fees from students during the two-month summer vacations, he questioned.

He asked the provincial government to payout salaries to the teachers of private schools during summer vacations, like given to teaching staffs of public sector schools in the province. Nazar Hussain said government’s prime responsible to ensure education for all under Article 25-A of the constitution. He said if the provincial government is serious to give relief to the parents, it should launch voucher scheme for deserving students, studying in private educational institutions.