Zobaida opposes tax on private schools

The Federal Minister for Education Zobaida Jalal has said that no tax must be levied on private schools and asked the Punjab government to review its policy in this regard.
She said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of first campus of Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust (SNPET) girls' high school here on Monday.
"The schools established in the private sector had to pay around 15 different kind of taxes which is unjustified", she said.
She asked the Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood to look into the matter on sympathetic grounds and extend maximum relief to the private educational institutes.
The federal government is considering providing incentives to the private educational institutes for the promotion of education sector.
She further said that financial assistance would be provided to the private educational institutes, apart from providing land for setting up schools.
She revealed that education exchange programme is being launched that would help students in exposing their talents.
Later talking to newsmen, she disclosed that the government is considering a proposal to start the academic year from September instead of April and conduct examinations in May.
She further disclosed that a regulatory framework is in the offing for private sector education. About establishment of Aga Khan Foundation Board, she was of the view that it would not affect local examination boards.
The establishment of the Aga Khan Foundation Board would, however, contribute towards improving the education standard in the country. Ministry of education has allocated huge funds for Education For All (EFA) programme, which has been initiated in the Punjab province and would be extended in other provinces soon.
Answering a question, she said that national review committee on curriculum was reviewing the curriculum for the last three years.
Clarifying government stance, she said that the government had not deleted 'Sura-e-Tauba' from the matric syllabus. However it is a suggestion that the Sura, being lengthy should be included in the syllabus of intermediate examination.
She said that Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has raised some objections over the curriculum issue but the government has already rejected its stance.