Dawn, Karachi/Lahore, 23 August 2002 (13 Jamadi-us-Saani, 1423)

Karachi

Private schools' registration rules framed

(extracts)

KARACHI, Aug 22: The provincial education department has framed rules to regulate private sector educational institutions under the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Ordinance 2001.

Under the rules, called the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Rules 2002, all privately managed institutions have to get themselves registered with the competent authority and submit the application on form 'A,' accompanied by documents mentioned therein and the fee mentioned in the schedule. The application form can be obtained from the registering authority on payment of the fee prescribed by the government. The fee shall be non-refundable.

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The registering authority shall constitute an inspection committee having at least three members each from the education department, general public and association of private schools, if any. One of the members shall be nominated as chairman of the committee. The committee shall enquire about the suitability of the location of the institution, premises, accommodation, furniture, equipment, adequacy of technical staff, details of arrangements for compulsory physical training, adoption of courses of study prescribed or approved by the competent authority, standard of education, standard of discipline and suitability of tuition fee and subscriptions charged from students.

The certificate of registration shall be granted after consideration of the report of the committee. The institution shall furnish to the registering authority the audit report and a report on the working curricular activities of the institution each year.

On receipt of any complaint or information regarding a dispute arising between an institution and parents or guardian of a student, or between the institution and its teachers or other staff, the registering authority shall constitute an enquiry committee comprising of members from civil society and officers of the education department to enquire into the dispute and submit its findings along with recommendations within 30 days. The registering authority, on receipt of the report, shall pass orders as deemed fit.

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DIRECTIVE ISSUED: No corporal punishment in any form can be administered to students, a directive issued by the Sindh education department said. The directive has been incorporated in the form for the certificate of registration. Every institution will have to form a parent-teacher association.

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The institute will observe the time table and duration of studies submitted along with the application of registration, and a change will immediately be intimated to the registering authority for information and approval.

No discrimination will be made on the basis of religion, sex, sect, colour, income or language while admitting the student.

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The provincial secretary education will be the registering authority for degree awarding institute and universities including institutions having academic linkage/foreign collaborations/ affiliation, with any other institutions of higher learning and teachers training.-PPI/APP

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2002