The government of Punjab has decided to establish a regulatory body for all private schools across the province.

Punjab Minister for School Education, Dr. Murad Raas, said that the single controlling authority would regulate private schools’ fees and other matters.

“We are going to form an authority for private schools that will regulate fees, other issues pertaining to the syllabus, licenses for new ones, etcetera,” said Raas while talking to media on Thursday.

He also hinted at setting up Insaaf Academy, which will impart free online lectures, quizzes by best teachers for students who cannot afford private tuitions.

The idea was floated by the provincial minister last year but it didn’t materialize back then.

Announcing the program in October 2020, Murad had said that the Insaaf Academy would include free lectures for classes 9 to 12.

“The first phase will include lectures on Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics for class 9. The students will be able to self-assess their abilities as well through quizzes. The whole program will be free of cost as well,” he had said.

Among other key developments, the provincial education department has upgraded 8,500 schools to the elementary level.

“Almost 70% of children used to quit schools after studying in fifth class as there were no elementary schools nearby,” he said, hoping that the trend would start to change.

Raas said that the up-gradation of schools would help bring 107,000 children back to school within three weeks.

Source: Pro Pakistani