The Islamabad High Court Friday restrained private educational institutions from receiving tuition fee during the summer vacations. A single judge bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui heard the case of receiving summer vacation fee from students by schools. He inquired from lawyers of Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) under what law they collect summer vacations fees.
The PEIRA is directed that all private educational institutions be restrained from receiving fee for the period of summer vacations till next date of hearing. Amount of fee already paid by the parents/students shall be adjusted against fee for the period after vacations.
In compliance with the order dated 07-08-18, Secretary Capital Administration and Development Division Furqan Bahadur Khan and Chairman PEIRA Hasanat Ahmed Qureshi appeared before the court and informed that Lahore High Court and Peshawar High Court partially restrained private educational institutions from receiving tuition fee during the summer vacations.
The counsels of PIERA contended that they could not do anything about restraining schools from collecting fees for summer vacations as the court had taken away the authority in this regard from PIERA. They said a petition against the withdrawal of the authority from PIERA was under hearing. However, the Islamabad High Court issued restraint orders and adjourned the hearing till June 20.
The issue of schools charging fees for summer vacations has been going on since a long time, but no steps have been taken yet to stop the practice. Not only in the federal capital but also in other cities of the country parents and guardians have been complaining of schools charging a sum in advance, a requirement that becomes a burden for people from low-income background. The case was adjourned until June 20, 2018.
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