Education committee to address unchecked fee hikes in private schools

WEB DESK: The Education Committee, led by Chairman Azeemuddin Zahid, recently held a meeting where the constant increase in private school fees was discussed. Committee member Anjum Aqeel Khan raised concerns regarding how private schools are allowed to increase fees frequently and expel students.

The Secretary of Education responded by promising a detailed briefing on the matter in the next meeting. During the session, a report from the special committee on schools under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) was presented by Convener Abdul Aleem Khan.

The report pointed out issues with the monitoring system in federal schools saying that it is not effective and causing problems in the education sector. It also highlighted the lack of quality education, poor infrastructure, and shortage of basic furniture in rural areas.

The report noted rural schools lack teachers and proper facilities, including playgrounds and well-maintained buildings. In contrast, urban schools are better equipped with modern amenities like Google Classrooms, computer labs, personal computers, and playgrounds, along with programmes like the e-Rozgaar scheme and international language courses.

Committee member Khurram Nawaz expressed dissatisfaction, claiming he had not seen the report, and criticised the poor conditions of rural schools in Islamabad.

He described issues like foul-smelling washrooms and broken water coolers, stating that government funds are spent mostly on urban schools while rural schools are neglected. He even mentioned a school in the village of Phulgran where stray dogs were found. Parents in rural areas are desperate to enrol their children in better urban schools.

Secretary of Education Mohiuddin Wani explained that the project to address missing facilities had started before his tenure. He said that 80 schools in rural areas have been selected for improvements, and whatever could be done in the last six months has been accomplished.

He promised to secure more funding in the next budget and added that most of the previously non-operational school buses are now functional, benefiting 8,000 girls through the Pink Buses initiative.

Wani assured the committee that he would be upgrading two rural schools every month and hoped to improve rural education so that more students from private institutions would shift to public schools.

Read next: No rush for new taxes: FBR tells IMF, considers fuel tax reduction