SC lambastes private schools, asks for replies on contemptuous letters
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The Supreme Court on Monday, while hearing a contempt case against two private schools, Headstart School and Ecole des Lumieres, directed them to submit their written replies in the case to the court and adjourned the hearing for two weeks.
The Supreme Court on December 13, on a petition against a hike in private school fees, had ordered a 20 per cent decrease in fees charged by upscale private schools, and ordered them to return half the fees they had charged for summer vacations. The order was applicable to private schools across the country whose fees are in excess of Rs5,000.
During a hearing of the case, the court was informed that two schools, Headstart School and Ecole des Lumieres School of Light, had written derogatory letters to parents and guardians. The verdict had noted that examples of resistance shown by private schools include reduction of facilities, increase in the number of students in every class, retrenchment of teaching staff and cut in their salaries.
The SC had subsequently called for developing a mechanism to counter resistance on the part of private schools to the regulatory steps.
"How dare you describe the Supreme Court school fee verdict as draconian," thundered Justice Gulzar Ahmed, who was heading a three-member apex court bench hearing the contempt case today.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that the letters written to the parents were contemptuous.
"What type of things did you write?" Justice Ahmed asked. He told the private schools' lawyers that they would shut their institutions.
"We can even nationalise your schools. We'll ask the government to take over your schools," he warned.
The counsel for Headstart School asked the court to forgive them and said it would not happen again. The private school's lawyer said that they had not intended to be contemptuous against the court and had followed by the court's directives by reducing their fees.
Justice Ahmed responded by asking the schools to submit a written apology after which they "will see [what happens]".
Justice Ahsan noted that the private schools had written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan in which they had used contemptuous language.
Justice Ahmed asked what sort of things they had said, while again proposing that they order the government to take over private schools.
The apex court judge added that private schools have turned education into a business, and added that schools should not be a money-making industry.
He said that "poison has been mixed into peoples lives".
"They don't have an ounce of shame in their eyes," he remarked, asking how many illnesses students have left private schools with.
He asked the two schools so submit a written reply regarding their use of contemptuous language.
The apex-court judge said the private schools were asking parents such questions that they couldn't even imagine.
"Who are private schools to ask parents where they are taking their children for holidays?" Justice Ahmed remarked.
The hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.
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Comments (44) Closed
Feb 11, 2019 04:50pm
During my childhood learned a lesson ."if you can not deliver, never take a responsibility"
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Feb 11, 2019 05:06pm
Respectable Judge said "We'll ask the government to take over your schools," as if government is doing a great job of managing Government schools.
Why no suo moto notice is taken on the state of Government run schools?
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Feb 11, 2019 05:08pm
"Who are private schools to ask parents where they are taking their children for holidays?" Justice Ahmed remarked.
They have turned schools into status symbols, so they want parents to take children to luxurious vacations so that they can maintain their status symbol in an already complex society
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Feb 11, 2019 05:09pm
Thanks Supreme Court!
But these private schools are mafias run by mafias. They'll come up with new ideas of loot and plunder, until the root cause is addressed i.e. as follows:
1. The Govt. needs to implement uniform and updated syllabus through Federal Text book Board, Islamabad; all over the country and install single examination conducting body (i.e. BISE Federal, Islamabad).
2. The Govt. should ban the Provincial Text book Boards, BISE (Divisional), Aga Khan, Cambridge, Oxford and American etc.
3. Moreover the Govt. should also ban the celebration of non-gazetted holidays or national days or provincial days like pink color day, cat costume day etc.
This foreign syllabus and pvt schools' subscription to the foreign examination conducting bodies is the key reason they r still looting the hard earned money of parents.
Public needs to raise the issue over social media. Public should pressurize the Govt. to raise the standards of govt. schools.
Thanks
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Feb 11, 2019 05:18pm
This will be the best decion for the people of Pakistan.
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Feb 11, 2019 05:20pm
Simply outstanding efforts by the Supreme Court to make institutions both public and private accountable! In Pakistan it is a 'free for all' because there is no effective regulation . The PIERA has proven to be a useless body as are so many other beaurocratic bodies because all they do is make helpless noises and then collect their salaries at the expense of the taxpayer.
For long enough many chain private schools (Roots/Headstart/Beaconhouse/Froebels/ Westminster /City) have been raking in hefty profits without improving their teaching , curriculum development, facilities and raising standards of education in all fields. After this cap on fees there needs to be regular monitoring that schools are delivering on key targets of achievement and quality and not adding in stealth fees.
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Feb 11, 2019 05:45pm
Let's talk about the the public school where are they what is happening there what are the steps state federal, province and local institution doing.. it's a shame that the public education sector is destroyed.. and the flip side private schools are now is position to demand.. this is the nature of economics monopolistic situation create masters.
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Feb 11, 2019 05:46pm
System of private schooling is discrimination and no service to the nation as a whole...
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Feb 11, 2019 05:56pm
This is the only way to deal with the unscrupulous financierisation of the private schools.
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Feb 11, 2019 05:59pm
Judges should know this how economics work. If they reduce fee then definitely they will cut costs and downsize. They won’t incur losses if SC says so.
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Feb 11, 2019 06:20pm
Yes, rather than fix the public school system, go after someone's private business and ruin those schools too.
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Feb 11, 2019 06:22pm
Since government has failed to provide quality education, how about ask government to ensure good education, provide vouchers that can be used to pay school tuition?
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Feb 11, 2019 06:23pm
Why only these two schools? It can be checked that even Beaconhouse School System has not reduced any fee. To deceive people they are writing on the fee challans, "as per the order of august supreme court" but there is no reduction in the fee.
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Feb 11, 2019 06:37pm
Schools building are heavily taxed several times by different authorities,by federal income tax,Provinced Property tax,Commercial tax ,building repair maintenance, painting, attorney fees. Bribes ,ect,after all these nothing left in rent money,
School has to pay salaries, high inflated utilities cost,printing,sign tax and so many other cost.
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Feb 11, 2019 06:44pm
Gov in Pakistan seems to be not serious in implementing the court order.
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Feb 11, 2019 07:12pm
The wealth of private school owners is disturbingly high when you compare the education they provide, very disproportionate.
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Feb 11, 2019 07:12pm
This is one issue that we are with SC; however, the court needs to review its decision on Karachi Mater Plan.
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Feb 11, 2019 07:28pm
Greed unlimited.
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Feb 11, 2019 07:41pm
@Umair, very well said!
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Feb 11, 2019 07:45pm
@Asif khan, Correct analysis. Also, there are numerous private schools that are working with moderate fees and reasonable returns. These must not be categorized with the few mentioned.
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Feb 11, 2019 08:02pm
@Umair, human development needs resources. Government schools are under provincial government. We all now where provinces spend budget ( corruption ). On other hand, private schools even after applying SC decision generating hefty amount of revenue which should easily allow provincial government to run schools, unless SC also keep eye to that.
In Summary, I feel Justice Gulzar is right.
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Feb 11, 2019 08:10pm
Supreme Court justices can’t manage the judicial system but they will fix schools ? It’s easy to pass judgements and difficult to solve problems
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Feb 11, 2019 08:15pm
SC must respect that private schools provide education which parents want. Good education costs money. Pakistan is a democracy where people provide service and if you wish you can avail the service. If not its your choice. Courts should uphold the free market and not snub it. It will be unfortunate if such schools are closed down.
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Feb 11, 2019 08:27pm
Actually those,who have allowed them to run schools just for the sake of running businesses must be held responsible and no government had ever proved that they're sincere towards the basic and vital need of the people.
They have to make proper laws to regulate every private institution of any type and level. The registration is very easy and is always under some nominal formalities and after registration no supervision is done and nothing is checked about their yearly performance and then finally now SC is taking action. Actual responsible factors are governments and the relevant operating systems who are totally ignoring education.
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Feb 11, 2019 08:38pm
I will request honorable judges of SC of Pakistan to auction these schools for a reasonable new management or handed over to education ministry.
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Feb 11, 2019 08:42pm
The drool dropping off the provincial education offices' is already flooding the streets. Please don't destroy the existing education system in the country. Warn the owners to comply with the terms ordered by the courts within a given time limit. If anyone fails to meet the deadline, penalize them by imposing fines and jail terms to serve but please don't through the system to the winds.
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Feb 11, 2019 08:54pm
It is a complete mafia whose sole aim is to earn money. There are still many school systems which are charging high fees
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Feb 11, 2019 08:59pm
Tax them from their profit
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Feb 11, 2019 09:23pm
Ridiculous and legislation from the bench, obviously the schools will make cuts and quality will suffer. If courts demand that private businesses not make money then the industry is doomed, just nationalize the schools and let the government turn them into what parents rejected in the first place..
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Feb 11, 2019 09:40pm
Education has become a very lucrative business in Pakistan. It is the responsibility of the government to provide quality education to each and every child of the country. Impose one percent education tax in GST and use that amount for quality education. Here in Canada I pay property tax, a portion of it goes towards education. We have one curriculum for the whole Canada. Shut down these private schools which are imparting low grade education.
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Feb 11, 2019 09:40pm
I realize everyone hates the rich - fair enough, I hate them too. But if one opens a school with certain facilities and sets the price for that, who says you have to send your kids to that school? There are public schools which are the responsibility of the government. However, is it fair to send your kids to these private schools so they can enjoy all the facilities and not pay for them fairly? - Yes fairly, I know you are going to say those school mafias are not being fair! I agree - but why send your kids to those mafia schools? It is their business model guys! if it offers something you like, then pay for it if not stay away from it. The price of a product is set by and should be set by the demand and supply, not by people's or the courts' whims. It applies to all businesses. Children are the business of the government, correct - but demand better facilities in the Government schools!
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Feb 11, 2019 10:04pm
After my daughter successfully written the test for the elementary school admission, me and my wife were called for an interview. I was shocked when a teenaged teacher asked us where we will take our children for holidays? How big and where our home is? Do we live in a joint family system? What is our education? How much do I earn and asked my wife if she is a stay home mom? We were so embarrassed to answer those questions that we decided not to send our child to this school although her name was posted on the merit list later.
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Feb 11, 2019 10:13pm
To reduce the socio-economic gap, improve the quality of education and streamline the curriculum issues. I am suggesting that there will be only one form of school system as follows where all including elite class have to send their kids
1. Government should privatize all the schools it owns. This will sound insane but read the next point
2. Government will pay the fees to school. This can be calculated in a similar fashion as it applies to Independent Power Projects (IPPs), i.e. Capacity Purchase Price (CPP) to pay for the maintenance of the facility (school) and Energy Purchase Price (EPP) to pay for the tuition fees per student enrolled at school
3. Government will print and publish books, provide the curriculum which will be same in all schools
4. Government will ensure the quality of education based on the examination results. Good results may attract incentives to the school management and teachers
This suggestion needs a detailed analysis by all stakeholders to refine the idea
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Feb 11, 2019 10:23pm
This is weird. The government is paying farmers above international prices for wheat. There is no check on the prices of manufactured goods. Fees of doctors and other professionals are not restrained. Why this hullabaloo about private schools? Private schools are being run for profit, and will close if you impose arbitrary limits on their fees.Do the judges want to close the only institutions that will improve technology, science, and culture in this country? Incidentally, I went to a public school and hold no brief for the private schools. I wish they would reduce their fees. However, if you don't limit the earnings of the big landowners, the big industrialists, the doctors etc. etc. you have no business picking on the owners of private schools. Let us try to enforce equity across-the-board.
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Feb 11, 2019 10:38pm
If the school is charging high fees don't send your child to that school ,choose a cheaper school, why drag them to court.
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Feb 11, 2019 10:40pm
@Asif khan, Bhutto had destroyed colleges by nationalization, now its tur of the schools
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Feb 11, 2019 10:46pm
Close and seal these schools for life.
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Feb 11, 2019 11:01pm
This is big business for many but a hardship paying high fees for most.
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Feb 11, 2019 11:04pm
For information as one of my family friend forwarded me this for the Supreme Court and other authorities to take notice of it.
Foundation Public School gave the fee challans to their students .They are quoting in it that they have given a reduction in the fees. Actually they have charged the syllabus fee again in this fee challan which was already charged in the month of August .They think the parents are not only illerate as well as idiots and are going to pay the fees without even seeing the fee challan .The fee challan is exactly what was previously given and below the fee challan they have warned that if the fees is not paid within the due date disciplinary action will be taken against the child.
Mr. Saqib Nisar Former Chief Justice what happened sir ? Is this the justice that parents were looking for .We had faith in the Supreme Court and thought that with the change in gov't people will get some relief but it is so depressing to note that the system of Pakistan remains the same no matter who you vote .
Seems the schools are not bothered on any verdict of the courts and feel they can get away making fools of the court verdict and the parents waiting for a relief from the schools. Maybe they feel as there is no authority to monitor them and no accountability even if they get caught in this act.
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Feb 11, 2019 11:14pm
Supreme Court has no business of butting into matters like school fee. The private schools never claim they are in it for not making money and how much money a business makes depends upon how good it is managed and how strong is the demand for its products/services.
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Feb 12, 2019 12:01am
Private schools are a choice. If so food outlets, designer shops and banks, mutual funds should be taken over by the government as well. Some make windfall profits and reward their employees/owners exceptionally.
Rather the respective regulatory body and public schooling system should be addressed by the SC to create fair and square competition.
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Feb 12, 2019 12:16am
Once again, the courts are undermining Pakistan's economy. Why would anyone invest in Pakistan if the courts can nationalize their businesses? And yes, education should be for profit.. for-profit education delivers the best results. Are the judges seriously implying that private schools education can be better run by the government? Get serious already.
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Feb 12, 2019 04:03am
@Ahmed bin Babar, ... Without it there would not be enough schools. The government is not providing them.
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Feb 12, 2019 11:34am
Khurshid Kasuri has now lot of foreign accounts,in Europe and USA,will any one check him out ??
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