Islamabad: Expressing concern over education becoming a business, the Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday said private schools were not a money-making industry and hinted at directing the government to take control of such institutions.
A three-member bench comprising Justices Gulzar Ahmed, Faisal Arbab and Ijazul Ahsan made the remarks during the hearing of a case regarding the use of contemptuous language in a letter addressed to the top judge by the administrations of two private schools in Islamabad, Geo TV reported.
“How did you have the audacity to term the court’s decision regarding hike in school fee ‘a draconian judgment’? Your letters to parents are in contempt of court,” Justice Ahsan told the school.
Justice Gulzar added, “What kind of things do you write? We should close your schools and can even nationalise them. We can ask the government to handle the administrative affairs of your schools.”
The letter pertained to the apex court’s decision ordering a 20 per cent decrease in the fee charged by private schools, Express News reported. The December 13, 2018. order was applicable to private schools charging over PakRs 5,000 per month. It restricted them to a maximum 8 per cent increase per year with the permission of a regulator. The apex court directed administrations to return half the fee charged for summer vacations or adjust the amount.
