PEIRA set to get permanent chief

Islamabad: At long last, things have begun to move towards the appointment of a permanent chief to the watchdog for private education in Islamabad.

The Cabinet Administration and Development Authority has invited application for the post of the PEIRA chairman (BPS-20).

The post will be filled on tenure basis for initial period of three years, which is extended for another term.

The basic qualification set for candidates is master’s degree in education planning management, public administration or law, or Ph.D or M.Phil in those subjects from the educational institutions recognised by the Higher Education Commission, while they should age between 45 and 55 years.

The serving government employees could also apply but in case one of them is selected, his or her selection will be subject to acceptance of his/her resignation by the competent authority.

The last permanent PEIRA chief was Atif Mehmood Kayani, who had abandoned the office in June 2013 after he came in for strong criticism from the Supreme Court over a mere 14 years education, including a bachelor’s degree with very low grades.

Thereafter, one CADD officer after another held the office on interim basis.

Administratively overseen by the CADD, this self-financing body was established in 2006 to register and regulate private schools and colleges in Islamabad but it has been under fire over failure to do the duty.

Of late, the city’s private schools, mostly elite ones, increased fees unprecedentedly on their own prompting public outrage and the subsequent intervention by the prime minister.

The matter is currently sub judice as the schools have moved the court against the government's orders for freeze on their fee.