In a historic decision, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) had ordered all the private schools across the country to reduce their fees by 20 percent.
The order to decrease fee and return half the fee charged for summer vacations applied to all the upscale schools which charge more than Rs.5000.
But, it has been learnt that several private schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are not following the apex court’s orders.
This has not only irked the parents but also angered the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar who passed the order while hearing the Suo Motu case.
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Owners of several private schools in Rawalpindi have refused to reduce the fee until they receive a detailed verdict on the case.
A resident of Rawalpindi, Chaudhary Imran, is one of the thousands suffering parents. Here’s what he had to say about the issue.
My two daughters are enrolled in SLS School in Montessori classes at Zafran Campus. I pay Rs.5500 tuition fees for each of them.
He said the school management has told him they will neither reduce the fee nor will they return any money charged during summer vacations.
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“I am being forced by the school management to deposit full fees of my daughters, and the school administration will decide later whether the order of the Court should be obeyed or not,” he said.
He asked the CJP to take action against school management.
Another parent, Hassan from Islamabad came up with a similar story:
“My three children are studying at AIMS School System in Islamabad. The management has been charging full fees from students, which is a clear violation of the apex court’s order.”
Upon contact, the SLS School management said they’d directed their accounts department to prepare for the return of fees, but, are waiting for the detailed verdict.
“We received an interim verdict of Court comprising eight pages and are waiting for issuance of a detailed verdict by SCP,” they said.
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The Supreme Court has been informed of several instances in which school management has either mistreated students or parents in the wake of top court’s December order or has slashed staff.
Justice Nisar ordered the Law and Justice Commission to prepare a report of such incidents and present before the bench in the next hearing.
During the hearing, the Private Schools Association President Zofran Elahi told the bench that the f private school owners would bear massive losses if they return one month fee in line with the apex court’s order.
On this, CJP remarked, “Then shut down the schools, I will show how to shut them down. If you wish to close the schools, close them.”
Via: The Nation
