ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was informed on Thursday that several institutions — including Federal Medical College, Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, Social Welfare Training Institute, Ministry of Human Rights, Legal Aid and Justice Authority and Tawana Pakistan Project — have occupied buildings belonging to the Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE).
The committee expressed concern over the continued occupation, noting that the facilities must be reclaimed and restored for their intended purpose of supporting children with disabilities. The meeting of the committee was held at the Parliament House under the acting chairmanship of Syeda Amnah Batool, MNA.
During the briefing, the committee was told that letters have been issued to the occupying departments directing them to vacate the premises. So far, only the Social Welfare Training Institute has complied and vacated its allotted building. The committee emphasised that continued occupation undermines the mandate of the DGSE.
The committee was informed that an online portal for private schools has been developed and that annual fee increases will be capped between 5% and 10%. Unregistered schools have been identified, and any institution failing to comply with the rules under PIERA will face enforcement action.
However, the committee criticised PIERA for not presenting a comprehensive strategy to regulate fee structures and strengthen its institutional capacity to effectively discharge its mandated functions. Concerns were also raised regarding school leaving certificates, which are currently issued by the PIERA. The committee stressed that such certificates must be properly verified by the educational institution concerned before issuance.
