A parliamentary panel on Wednesday showed concern over 750 percent increase in the fees of private schools in the federal capital from 2003 and directed the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Secretary, Riffat Shaheen to give complete details of fee structure of these schools.
A meeting of National Assembly (NA) standing committee over the performance of CADD was held under the chairmanship of Jamshed Dasti. The participants expressed displeasure over the huge increase in the fee structure of the private schools functional in the federal capital and said that unfortunately education had become commercialized and private schools had taken full advantage of it.
The committee said that private schools had increased the fee structure without prior approval from any authority and it had become difficult for parents to afford such a hike in school fees.
Legislators said that from 2003, 750 percent increase had been witnessed in the fees of private schools and directed the CADD secretary to hold meeting with private schools over their fee structure and submit details during the next meeting of the committee.
We have drawn a line between rich and poor due to dual educational curriculums, the committee observed.
The standing committee said that private schools had been established in small houses and other facilities and play grounds were entirely missing in such schools, thus damaging the health of students.
The CADD secretary apprised the committee that CADD had no control over private schools, and it could be achieved through a bill that had been tabled in the national assembly to address this issue. She said that at the time of registration, the private schools do mention the fee structure, however, they later increased the fees according to their own will.
Riffat said that for bringing uniformity in the curriculum and fee structure, all stakeholders had to sit together because this issue was important for the coming generations.
During the course of the meeting, Dasti resented the debate over homosexuality in a private school and said that in a Muslim country such things would not be tolerated.
The legislative body also showed resentment over the delay in construction work on National Bank in Islamabad from the last six years and directed officials to give complete details as to why this project had been delayed and to fix the responsibility where it belonged.
The National Assembly (NA) body also asked them to give details of the amount of money spent on this project so far.
The committee directed Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Executive Director to advise the doctors working in PIMS to improve their attitude towards patients and treat all patients on the basis of equality.
