Private Schools Network (PSN), Islamabad, President Dr Afzal Babar Sunday demanded appointment of a permanent chairman of Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) to regulate and promote private schools and protect rights of parents and students.
The regulatory authority, formed in 2006, is unable to fulfill its responsibilities without a permanent chairman since 2013 and is also involved in financial embezzlement.
Talking to APP, Chairman PSN, Dr Afzal Babar said the service rules for this authority were notified in 2016 but later on,challenged in Islamabad High Court. Since so far the case was subjudice in the court and no one was ready to amend the rules if necessary.He said the students of private educational institutions were suffering due to exorbitant fee structure and other charges, low educational standard and lack of facilities.
Dr Afzal Babar said 16 employees of PEIRA had also staged protests for several times, demanding appointment of its permanent chairman but went in vain. He said PEIRA Member Imtiaz Ali Qureshi who was also facing corruption charges of Rs 50 million in free books to the needy students case, was occupying his (Dr Afzal Babar) position for the last 11 years.
“We and all the private schools association in federal capital demand the authority concerned to amend the rules and advertise the posts of chairman and members as soon as possible to save the future of the students,” he said. He said the permanent chairman, if appointed, would discharge his professional responsibilities properly.
