‘Schools cannot legally collect security fee’

School administrators should not force students and their parents to pay any additional amount in the name of security, said Dr Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui, the head of the Sindh Directorate of Private Institutions, on Thursday.

“The provincial education department will not allow private institutions to collect any amount in the name of security fee,” said Siddiqui in his address as chief guest at a quiz show held at a private school.

The quiz show was arranged to improve general knowledge of children about ideology of Pakistan through entertaining activities.

Dr Siddiqui expressed the extracurricular activities, especially for creating awareness about ideology of Pakistan, must be appreciated.

He informed that the steering committee on education had also instructed all institutions to promote extracurricular activities.

He said that most of the students were more relying on notes and, therefore, they were failing to develop the habit of book reading.

Responding to a query, Dr Mansoob Siddiqui reinforced his version that no private institution was allowed to collect any other amount except the tuition fee.

“Legislation is also being done in this regard and the registration of institution will be cancelled on violation of this rule.

The quality education has become a lucrative commodity. Actions about fee increase by some institutions are pending due to cases in courts. The collection of a two-month fee is illegal.”

The quiz show was part of the ongoing month-long activities of a stationery company aiming to improve extracurricular activism among young children and tell them about ideology behind foundation of Pakistan. The quiz show followed by a magic and puppet show.