Islamabad: The students of private schools are paying more than 2,000/month. So, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered them to reduce the current fees by 20%.
A three-member bench consists of Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and two others named Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Faisal Arbab held today. They were hearing a case filed by a citizen of Pakistan against the private schools charging excessive fees.
Update: School fee reduction order applies to all private schools, says CJP
After the hearing of the case, the Supreme Court bench ordered the Federal Bureau of Revenue to check the tax records of the directors of these private institutions.
According to the reports, these schools can increase the monthly fees only 5% annually.
Moreover, after the orders of Apex court, the private schools have no choice.
They have to return 50% of the summer vacation fees to the students. If they cannot return the amount to the students, they need to adjust the amount accordingly.
The court orders “No school has authority to expel any student from the school and no authority has the power to shut down any school. If anyone does so, it will be a direct contempt of court orders. Anyone who does so will be punished”.
In the initial hearings, the bench orders for the forensic audits of the accounts of these institutions. It is for the detailed analysis of the case that was filed by a citizen.
The Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that the private schools charge un-affordable fees according to their wishes. He further said that the education is not a commodity, the schools can offer for sale to the children.
