KARACHI, (TLTP): Pakistan Education Council Sindh has announced that keeping in view the current difficult situation in the country, it supports the government of Sindh in granting 20 percent concession to parents whose children attend private schools across the board for two months, in practical terms.
However, the Pakistan Education Council (PEC) has stated that legal cover is required for the notifications issued on 6th and 9th April, stated the PEC spokesperson here on Tuesday.
“As of today, these notifications have no legal basis or justification. Our fear is that our compliance with orders that are not authorised in law, will set an adverse example for future governments that may not have the wisdom of the present one”, stated the spokesperson.
In this difficult hour for the nation, schools must take on a leadership role entrusted to them by their communities, he said, adding to that end, private schools have supported the many steps the Sindh government has undertaken to protect everyone from the perils of COVID-19.
In fact, it was the PEC that suggested to the Sindh government to bring the summer vacations forward to April and May. “We appreciate their due consideration of our recommendations, as well as their collaboration with us, when making this decision. It goes without saying that the PEC stands shoulder to shoulder with the government in this effort.”
The PEC clearly declared the intention of its member schools to help parents impacted by the March and April lockdowns. “We continue to maintain that this can only be practically possible by focusing on those impacted the most, rather than indiscriminate concessions to everyone. As such, we backed the Sindh government’s promotion of this selective strategy while it lasted,” said the spokesperson.
While the government itself focuses its taxpayer-funded relief efforts on the most needy citizens based on established criteria, it is unsustainable for private institutions to be forced to provide financial relief to all customers, regardless of need, and without any commensurate relief from the government.
“Indeed, the PEC will be most willing to revert to helping the neediest, should the government be unable to obtain legal cover for its notifications,” he added.
