The Grand Alliance of Private Schools Associations has withdrawn its planned strike scheduled for January 9 after receiving assurances from Sindh Education Minister Sardari Ali Shah. The decision followed government commitments to address concerns raised by private schools, particularly regarding the verification process for freeship students across the province.
Under existing regulations, private schools in Sindh are required to provide free education to 10 percent of their enrolled students. The alliance had objected to the way authorities were verifying freeship data, saying the current process had created confusion, uncertainty, and operational challenges for school administrations.
A delegation of the alliance met the education minister on Tuesday to formally discuss these issues. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the education department, representatives of the Anti-Corruption Establishment, and members from various private school associations operating in Sindh.
During the discussions, the delegation expressed concern that verification through the Anti-Corruption Establishment blurred the line between verification and investigation. They claimed that in some areas, schools and parents were subjected to inappropriate treatment, creating fear and mistrust during the process.
Education Minister Sardari Ali Shah acknowledged that the absence of a clear and coordinated verification mechanism had caused difficulties for private institutions. He said the government respects court rulings related to the freeship policy and is committed to ensuring transparency without harassment.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to establish a coordinated verification framework involving the Anti-Corruption Establishment and the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions. The minister also recognized the contribution of private schools in supporting education across Sindh.
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