Notices issued to 77 schools over advance fee, court told

LAHORE: Punjab Education Department Tuesday informed the Lahore High Court that show-cause notices had been issued to 77 private schools for collecting advance fee of three months for summer vacation from the students.
Pursuing the court’s order, EDO (Education) Pervez Akhtar appeared before it and stated that if the schools were found guilty of not responding the notices with satisfactory replies, their registration could be cancelled and buildings be sealed.
He said newspaper advertisements gave awareness to parents about government’s directive against collection of fee in advance for summer vacation. He said the department received complaints against 77 schools so far.
An additional advocate general told the court that draft of “Punjab Education Bill” was at deliberation stage and bill would soon be presented before the provincial cabinet and provincial assembly to make it a law. The court deferred further hearing until June 17. Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi directed the EDO to submit a report about action taken against the schools violating the government’s instructions.
Advocate Sheeba Qaisar had filed a petition complaining that private schools were violating the government direction and asking the parents to submit fee for the three months summer vacation in advance besides other charges.