Private schools: Sindh govt moves to break tuition cycle

By Mukhtar Alam

KARACHI: In a bid to alleviate the financial burden on parents, the Sindh government's watchdog body for private schools has issued guidelines to privately-run institutions, aiming to promote a socioeconomically conducive culture for students and parents.

According to sources within the provincial education department, authorities have grown concerned over the additional costs of education and training that parents must incur outside of school, on top of regular tuition fees.

"We cannot ignore the plight of thousands of guardians who struggle to make ends meet due to exorbitant tuition fees," said Rafia Javed Mallah, Additional Director (Registration) at the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions (DIRPI), Sindh. "It's time for schools to take responsibility for providing quality education within their campuses."

The guidelines, outlined in a letter captioned "Guidelines for Enhancing Educational Standards in Privately Run Schools," focus on six key areas: Comprehensive academic support; Enhanced teacher-student interactions; Balanced focus on physical and mental wellbeing; Accountability for classroom success; Professional development; Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

Ending double tuition fee: Ms Mallah emphasised that adherence to these principles will ensure students receive the care and attention they need, both academically and emotionally, within the school setting.

"The current system forces parents to pay double tuition fees, which is unsustainable," she said. "By establishing in-house remedial programmes and providing additional support, schools can reduce the reliance on external tuition centers."

The DIRPI letter notes that despite schools claiming high teaching standards, many students still seek additional academic support at tuition centers. This raises questions about the effectiveness of schools in meeting educational standards.

"Teachers should create a classroom atmosphere where students feel comfortable asking questions," Ms Mallah suggested. "Administrators must closely monitor classroom activities to ensure learning is effective and comprehensive."

By implementing these guidelines, the Sindh government hopes to alleviate the financial burden on parents and promote a more supportive learning environment for students.

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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