Quality difference between private, government schools on the rise: SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday remarked that a difference in quality of education by private and government-run schools was increasing with each passing day, ARY News reported.

During a hearing of a case regarding fee hike by private schools, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa sought complete details from lawyer of the Khyber Pakhtonkhwa private schools.

“We need report of each school in the KP and it is possible that we may order inspection of all the schools,” remarked the CJP.

The lawyer said he had prepared a report regarding provision of free education in the province. The court responded that people were moving towards private education due to lack of quality and facilities in government education system.

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Advocate Faisal Siddiqui, representing the parents who petitioned in the apex court for reduction of schools fee, said the society couldn’t be sacrificed due to interest of a handful of people. He said the constitution guaranteed provision of education to children by the government.

Justice Faisal Arab said many government schools were operating even without a teacher. While Justice Ejazul Hasan said children studying at private schools get good jobs in their career.

He reiterated that the court was not in favour of imposing an unnecessary ban on schools.
Chief justice said the private schools counsel must prove with reasoning that a five percent hike in fee was justified.

Advocate Siddiqui said the Sindh High Court had given a decision in favour of parents.

The SHC verdict said raising a fee without approval from a relevant authority is not allowed, according to the lawyer.

During a hearing yesterday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had remarked that hike in private schools fee could only be made over ‘solid reasons’.

The top court said the schools’ administration must also raise salaries of teachers if they increase fee.

Justice Faisal Arab remarked that parents had a choice in picking private schools as there were alma maters whose fee varies between Rs 10,000 and Rs 60,000.