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Friday March 29, 2024

Private schools continue to charge summer vacation fees

EDO Education claims action taken against 24 educational institutions

By Saeed Ahmed
June 20, 2015
Rawalpindi
Though the education directorate authorities claimed that they have taken action against private educational institutions for allegedly claiming two-month summer vacation fees from students, but the practice is still continuing in private schools.
Executive District Officer (Education) Qazi Zahoor ul Haq told this correspondent here on Thursday that on complaints as well as reports published in the print media, action has been taken against more than 24 schools for claiming two-month summer vacation fees from students. He agreed that the LHC had barred private as well as government schools from charging summer vacation fees but violation is being committed by some private schools.
Qazi Zahoor said that special teams have been constituted which visit private academic institutions for ascertaining facts with regard to charging of two-month summer vacation fees. In this connection, action has been taken against a number of institutions, he claimed.
The EDO said that the ongoing campaign would continue against those private institutions which are violating court orders, he added.
On the other hand, students as well as parents, while approaching this correspondent, alleged that the managements of all private schools without any fear and care are charging summer vacation fees from them. While the managements are openly violating the orders of the LHC, but no notice has been taken against them.
Parents alleged that though as per government orders, schools were to be closed on June 10 for summer holidays, however, the managements of private institutions in order to claim two-month summer vacation fees extended the date of summer holidays by one week. This is a violation of the government orders by private institutions, they alleged.
According to reliable sources, though the two-month fee is being claimed from students but teachers are not being paid salaries by school managements during summer vacation.
Parents and students have made a fervent appeal to Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to take serious notice of the matter of violation of court and government orders by managements of private schools. The fees charged from students should be refunded, they demanded.