The PML-N-led coalition government at the Center now has 229 members in the NA. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Education on Tuesday took the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PIERA) to task over what it termed unjustified increases in school fees, raising serious concerns about flaws in the fee assessment mechanism linked to quality assessment.
The meeting, convened by Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, was held at the Federal Directorate of Education conference room in Islamabad.
The committee pointed out that the quality assessment framework for private educational institutions is based on seven core indicators, including quality of teaching, classroom learning environment, infrastructure and facilities, transparency and publicity, administrative and operational capacity, cleanliness and discipline, and safety and security.
Members stressed that any fee increase must be directly linked to real improvements in these areas and should not place an undue financial burden on parents.
The panel emphasized the need for tighter controls, greater transparency and effective oversight of PIERA to ensure that quality-based assessments are fair, credible and serve the interests of students and parents rather than enabling arbitrary fee increases.
The committee was informed that the memorandum of understanding signed with NGOs has been examined by the Ministry of Law and Justice and contains provisions for compliance with the notified minimum wage.
The committee stressed that all employees working in public schools funded or run through NGOs must be paid wages strictly in accordance with minimum wage laws, without any exception.
The Committee recommended that all buildings currently under the administrative control of the Directorate General for Special Education (DGSE) be formally handed over to the DGSE to ensure their effective utilization solely for the education, rehabilitation and welfare of children with special needs.
