All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA), while criticising three-time increase in commercialisation fee, has termed the decision as anti-education and contrary to Punjab chief minister's slogan of 'Parha Likha Punjab'. Adeeb Jawadani, president of the association accompanied by other members of his body told newsmen here on Wednesday that the provincial government has increased commercialisation fee for schools from 10 percent to 30 percent of the market value of school's land and building.

Similarly, the temporary commercialisation fee has also been enhanced from 1.5 percent to 3.00 percent and 20 percent for the newly established schools. As a result, the schools owners would have to pay Rs 175,000 for 10-marla school, while Rs 2,000 per marla will also be charged as processing fee, he said.

This move would cause economic hardships for private schools and they would be forced to close down their institutions, he claimed.

The provincial commercialisation policy would be applicable on all the educational institutions under jurisdiction of tehsil municipal administration, town municipal administration and city district government, he added.

He said that this fee is not applicable in any province of the country. He further said that the private schools are playing significant role for promotion of education, as 13 million students are getting education through these institutes. Only in Punjab province, 7 million students are enrolled in 40,000 schools, he maintained.

He demanded of the Punjab chief minister to immediately withdraw the increase in commercialisation fee and also abolish process fee so as to enable the private schools to play its role in spreading education.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005