Private schools face up to Rs4m fine for violating law

LAHORE
In the wake of growing concern among general public over unbridled working of private sector schools, the Punjab government has amended the Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Ordinance 1984.
Under the amended law, heavy fine i.e. up to Rs4 million can be imposed on a private school for violating the law while in future any increase in fee will be made in consultation with the government.
Similarly, under the amended law, the private schools shall not require the parents to purchase textbooks, uniforms or other material from a particular shop or provider.
After amendments, the Punjab government has now promulgated the Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2015.
Under the amended Ordinance, no private institution shall charge fee during academic year 2015-16 at the rate higher than the fee charged during the academic year 2014-15.
In case, there is a reasonable justification for appropriate increase in the fee for the purpose of the next academic year, the charge may apply to the registration authority at least three months before the start of next academic year proposing reasonable increase of the fee.
The registration authority shall fix the maximum amount of fee which will be charged by an institution or a category of institutions from the students. The institution shall not charge any amount from the student other than the fee and the In-charge shall refund it within seven days from the commencement of this Ordinance. The additional fee already charged or adjusted will immediately be payable by the student.
Similarly, under the law, the admission fee or the security shall not exceed the amount equal to the tuition fee payable by the student for a month. The fee includes admission fee, tuition fee, security, laboratory fee, library fee or any other fee or amount charged by an institution from a student. Any persons aggrieved by a final order of the registration authority can file an appeal to the Commissioner of the division within 30 days and the Commissioner shall also decide the appeal within 30 days and the decision of the Commissioner will be final.
The registration authority after providing reasonable opportunity of defence can impose administrative penalty up to Rs 20,000 per day from the date of notice is served on the institution. If the contravention continues for more than 30 days, the registering authority, in addition to any other action or penalty under the Ordinance, shall file a complaint against the In-charge in the court of First Class Magistrate and the court can punish the In-charge with a fine up to Rs two million, but shall not be less than Rs 200,000. If an In-charge runs the institution without registration under the Ordinance, he will be liable to punishment of fine up to Rs four million, but not less than Rs 300,000.
The registration authority shall not impose penalty or fine unless the In-charge affords an opportunity of hearing.
An In-charge of the institution shall get registered the institution with the registration authority. In case the institution is not registered, the In-charge shall apply for the registration of the institution within 45 days of the commencement of this Ordinance and registering authority shall decide the same within 60 days from the date of filing of the application. However, the institution shall continue to function till the decision of the application.