Tag: private schools

  • 10-year-old allegedly raped in washroom of private school

    10-year-old allegedly raped in washroom of private school

    A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the washroom of a private school in Lahore and was taken to the hospital in critical condition, Dawn has reported.

    The incident was brought to light after the child, a third-grade student, was found in a terrible state in the washroom after the school had closed.

    According to the initial investigation, she went to the washroom after school, when the suspect reached inside and locked the door. Police officials suspect that the rapist is a male student at the institution.

    The victim cried out for help when she was being sexually assaulted, according to the police officer. Her class fellows told the police that they had informed the school management about her cries, but that they were ignored since “children used to make noise frequently” on school grounds.

    The victim was taken to the hospital, where sexual assault was confirmed by medics. The school’s CCTV cameras, as well as those located outside, are being used to assist the police.

  • Surge in COVID cases: Educational institutions to close down in at least 7 cities

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, in a press conference, have announced that educational institutes in Punjab will remain closed from March 15 to 28. The decision was taken after a meeting of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) to review the situation of coronavirus in the country.

    The government officials said that educational institutes in Punjab will remain closed from March 15 to March 28 to contain the spread of Covid-19, adding that spring break will begin in seven districts of Punjab, including Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. Mahmood said the same decision will also apply to educational institutions in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad and Peshawar.

    However, the decision of the closure of the schools will not be applicable to schools that are already conducting examinations.

    Educational institutions in Sindh and Balochistan would continue with 50 percent attendance every day.

    Earlier today, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar presided over the NCOC meeting. To contain the spread of the virus the in the country, the following decisions have been taken:

    • Strict compliance of Mask Wearing will continue across the board.
    • SLDs / Micro SLDs will continue to be imposed based on the disease prevalence / hotspots.
    • 50% work from home policy will be implemented on the discretion of federating units. However, it will be enforced in ICT with immediate effect.
    • Time limit of 10:00 PM on all commercial activities will be re-enforced with immediate effect, less essential services.
    • Amusement Parks across the country will be closed at 6:00 PM..
    • Earlier decision of allowing indoor weddings, indoor dining and opening of cinemas and shrines with effect from March 15, 2021 has been withdrawn. However, outdoor dining / take away will continue to remain open as per previous practice.
    • Outdoor gatherings will continue to remain limited to a maximum of 300 individuals with strict enforcement of COVID -19 SOPs.
    • Review of all enforced  non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) will be carried out on April 12, 2021.

    The above-mentioned decisions regarding non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are the baseline decisions. Federating units are at liberty to impose stricter NPIs in selected cities/districts keeping in view the local disease trend/ spread.

  • Private schools’ association demands reopening of schools from Aug 15

    Private schools’ association demands reopening of schools from Aug 15

    The All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) has announced the reopening of private schools from August 15 across the country rejecting the Federal Government’s decision to reopen them in September.

    In a press conference, the association said that students had to go through an educational loss because schools have been shut down for the past six to eight months.

    The APPSCA president, Hidayat Khan, added that the virus has slowed down and that cases are also decreasing.

    He added that the association had tried to negotiate with the government but they did not listen. Khan warned that if the government does not listen to them, they will march to protest against the government. He also strongly criticised the federal government and called it incompetent.

    “We will open schools in line with the SOPs. Madrassas have been opened, and they have even conducted examinations,” he added.

  • Govt to reopen schools with strict COVID-19 SOPs: Shafqat Mahmood

    Govt to reopen schools with strict COVID-19 SOPs: Shafqat Mahmood

    Federal Education Minister on Monday said the government was considering reopening of schools under the implementation of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

    Talking to the media after a meeting at the minister’s office, the minister said suggestions had been taken from the private schools and Madaris of all provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

    Mahmood said a meeting had also been arranged with the Ministry of Health in this regard, and that the decision would be taken keeping in view the NCOC data. He said the education ministry also discussed with those countries that had opened schools under various SOPs through UNICEF.

    The minister said according to the Gallup Survey, around 70% of parents were willing to send their children to school under COVID-19 SOPs.

    “We want to end the uncertainty on the basic important issue like education,” he said.

    The minister hinted at holding a press conference on the issue to take parents into confidence after the preparation of a road map.

    While the Provincial Minister of Punjab for School Education took to Twitter and stated that there is no definite date announced for reopening of schools in the province.

  • Govt goes after parents paying Rs200,000 or more as kids’ annual school fee

    Govt goes after parents paying Rs200,000 or more as kids’ annual school fee

    Continuing to desperately look for potential taxpayers, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has dispatched letters to parents paying Rs200,000 or more as their children’s annual school fee, The Express Tribune reported.

    Aggressively digging the records of citizens who, at some stage, have come under prominent sections of the Income Tax Ordinance, the FBR has asked the parents to declare their hidden assets and become tax return filers.

    “Data available with the FBR reveals that advance tax under Section 2361 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 has been collected from you and deposited in the government treasury, meaning thereby that you are paying an annual fee exceeding Rs200,000 per child (student) to educational institutions,” said the letter sent by the FBR’s Corporate Regional Tax Office (RTO) in Lahore.

    According to Section 2361, every educational institution is required to collect advance income tax at the rate of 5% on the fee paid. The person responsible for preparing monthly, bimonthly or quarterly fee vouchers shall also charge withholding tax in case the fee exceeds Rs200,000 annually.

    “Please note that the FBR intends to register all those persons who are earning taxable income and are liable to file returns under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, but have failed to do so,” it stated, adding the registration drive also included the persons who were liable to be registered under the Sales Tax Act 1990 or Federal Excise Act 2005.

  • Win for parents as private schools restricted from increasing fees

    Win for parents as private schools restricted from increasing fees

    After months of struggle, parents have secured a win over private schools with their owners being barred from increasing fees by more than 5 per cent a year, a private media outlet reported.

    According to reports, the Supreme Court (SC) delivered the verdict on Wednesday while hearing a case filed by owners of private schools. They had sought legal approval to increase fees by 15 per cent to 20 per cent every year.

    Justice Ijazul Ahsan read out the reserved verdict.

    The top court upheld the verdict of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and overturned the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision in favour of the private schools.

    The schools have been ordered to return or adjust the extra amount they charged parents since the first ruling in the case.