ISLAMABAD: The Senate Implementation Committee on Thursday expressed serious concern over fees increase by private educational institutions and asked Islamabad Capital Territory-Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (ICT-PEIRA) to play its role effectively to regulate the fees and take action against those educational institutions that increased the fees in violation of the directives of federal government and superior courts against increasing educational fees.

Committee chairman Dilawar Khan presided over the meeting.

The committee questioned the performance of ICT-PEIRA in the backdrop of complaints received from the parents/guardians of scores of students studying in different schools of the federal capital regarding fee increase by different schools.

"On a daily basis, we have been receiving complaints from the parents and guardians of the students. The government and superior courts had directed the ICT-PEIRA to ensure reduction in the fees of educational institutions in the backdrop of rapid spread of coronavirus in Pakistan that adversely affected the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis," said the committee chairman.

"But, we wonder, if, at all, anything has been done in this regard. Had any strong action been taken against fee increase by PEIRA, we would not have been receiving so many complaints," he said.

Another committee member Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen said "We are shocked to see that the instructions of the federal government, the honorable superior courts and the recommendations of the Parliament and its committees have fallen on deaf ears and ICT-PEIRA has miserably failed to take on those schools that are fleecing the students and their parents/guardians by charging fees at their will. They are exploiting the students to mint maximum money. They should be taken on in every way possible."

Chairman committee endorsed Tareen's arguments. "What is stopping ICT-PEIRA from taking effective action against the schools charging hefty fees?" he asked adding that ICT-PEIRA is legally empowered to take action against any educational institution on any pretext. "If PEIRA needs more powers and legislation is required for this purpose, PEIRA should give its suggestions to the committee. We will take them up," he said.

Chairperson ICT-PEIRA Zia Batool informed the committee that more than 700 complaints were received regarding excessive fees charged by schools. Action was taken on these complaints, she claimed. Taking into account the spread of coronavirus in Pakistan, private educational institutions charging monthly fees of more than Rs 5,000 were instructed to reduce fees by 20 per cent, she said adding that eight per cent private schools are charging very high fees.

The committee decided to start formulating from its next meeting a national policy in consultation with federal and provincial educational ministers and secretaries, Ministry of Law and Justice and Senate's Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020