Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro has said that rules to regulate fee structure and admission policies of private schools are being finalised and would be made effective in about one month. She was replying to questions in Sindh Assembly during question hour on Wednesday when the provincial assembly began it session at 11:30 am, instead of at 10 am. Speaker Muzaffar Hussain Shah was in the chair. Hasham Abdul Basit son of Abdul Basit of Egypt recited verses from the Holy Quran.
Former chief minister Ali Mohammed Mahar also attended the session for a brief period. Imtiaz Shaikh did not attend the session. The education minister said that Pakistan was moving toward free economy and any control of private schools' financial affairs would retard the process. "Under section 6 of Sindh Private Education Institutions (Regulation and Control) Amendment Act 2003, fee structure of an institution is to be fixed with prior approval of government. Criteria for registration are given in Sindh Private Education Institution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2004 which are in approval stage."
She said that there were schools of varying nature and of various standards. "However, the issues of private educational institutions are sensitive and need to be addressed carefully," she added.
"Those who cannot afford to send their children to expensive private schools can choose from a number of schools which have lower fees structure and their admission fees also vary to suit different pockets. In addition, public sector schools are there to cater to the needs of those who do not want to send their children to expensive schools," Khuhro said.
She brushed aside all criticism by the opposition in respect of private schools and advocated their case with full force. Even to a question from the opposition about the rationale of high fee structure, high admission fee and low salaries to the teaching staff, the minister said that it was difficult for the government to intervene in this matter.
She said she knew cases where teachers had signed salary slips for amounts much higher than the amount they actually received from school. She said that though the problem was a serious one and known but its solution was difficult.
Hamida said that market forces were determining wages and it was difficult to come up with a solution.
She said that the coming legislation would ensure that tuition fees, admission fees and salaries are determined with the approval of the government.
The minister gave details about the shortage of teachers in the province, especially in rural Sindh, and said that efforts were being made to fill the vacant positions.
After Zuhar prayers, the session began at about 2:35. After five minutes the session was scheduled to be adjourned for the next day. But before the proceedings could commence, according to the order of the day, Jamiluzzaman of PPP asked the Speaker to relax all rules under rule 211 and allow him to move a resolution regarding illegal immigrants and issuance of computerised identity cards.
The speaker refused to grant relaxation of rules, as he did not want to set a precedent and asked him to move a motion for the relaxation of rules and let the House decide its fate.
Jamil moved the motion for the relaxation of rules, which was turned down by the house with simple majority.
The resolution which Jamil wanted to move was meant to ask the government not to issue computerised identity cards for illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and other countries.
After the house rejected the motion, it was time to create a noisy scene in the House. There was a time that no one could hear what members were saying. Probably there were exchange of expletives and indecent remarks.
The speaker, finding it difficult to cool down the tempers, adjourned the House to meet on Thursday at 10 am.
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