The Sindh government has ordered a private school in Karachi to reverse fee hikes it imposed during the summer holidays, after a hearing found the increase violated provincial regulations.
The Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions, part of the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department, issued a letter on Friday to the principal and administrator of Veritas Learning Circle (Primary). The letter followed a hearing held on Thursday over complaints about what the directorate called an illegal and extraordinary fee hike at the school.
The directorate found that Veritas, including all of its campuses, had raised tuition fees without approval from the registration authority, in violation of Rule 7(6) of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Rules 2005. That rule states any complaint regarding tuition fees charged in violation of the rules, or the charging of any fee other than tuition, is liable to be punished.
The school was directed to immediately stop collecting any excess or unapproved fees and to refund all amounts unlawfully charged as tuition. It must submit a compliance report to the directorate within 15 days, along with documentary evidence of the refunds. The letter also stated that the school may only collect fees duly approved by the registration authority, and warned that non compliance would result in action under the relevant act and rules.
Rafia Mallah, additional director of registration at the Directorate of Private Schools, said schools typically raise fees only after receiving approval for a five per cent increase, which is requested during registration renewal. She said Veritas had not applied for this increment and was not due for registration renewal this year, adding that the school simply enhanced its fees on its own.
A committee was formed after complaints were received about the hike. Since the school was closed for summer break, it was summoned for a hearing on July 9. The hearing found the school had raised fees unilaterally, after which a letter was issued directing it not to increase fees by a single rupee above the previously approved amount.
Mallah said a circular and press release were also issued to all schools to reinforce the policy, warning that any school raising fees would face action, and that parents would be given a form confirming they are not required to pay above the approved amount.
The circular, also seen by Dawn, said complaints had been received about excess tuition fees as well as additional hidden charges collected from parents. It directed schools not to request payment for any hidden charges beyond approved fees, and to display the approved fee schedule on notice boards and at reception.
The circular noted that charging fees outside of approved tuition, without authorization from the Registration Authority, violates Rule 7(4) of the same rules, while violations of Rule 7(6) are punishable with a fine of up to five lakh rupees under Section 11 of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Ordinance of 2001. It added that discrepancies would lead to stern action against schools under Section 8 of the ordinance, which covers cancellation or suspension of registration.
