RAWALPINDI: In a remarkable move towards enhancing the efficiency in the school registration process, the Ministry of Education has established a five-member District Education Registration Authority.
This body will play a pivotal role in facilitating the registration process for new private schools, overseeing renewals, determining appropriate fee structures, and promptly addressing any arising issues. As per sources familiar with the matter, these authorities have been established in every district across the nation.
The Ministry, through a notification, has made it mandatory for new private schools and academies to obtain Building Fitness Certificates from the highly reputed Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Building Department. This shift in policy signals a departure from the previous acceptance of building certificates issued by private builders and engineers.
The new regulations also designate the deputy commissioner as the chairman of the District Schools Registration Authority, underscoring the significance of their role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the registration process, according to the local media.
To further bolster the authority’s capabilities, the esteemed Chief Executive Officer of the District Education Authority will assume the role of the secretary and an integral member of the committee. Additionally, a member from the district monitoring officer’s office, a representative from the parents’ community, and another representative from the private schools association will join the committee. These two representatives will be appointed by the deputy commissioner, adhering to the revised regulations. The committee will bear the responsibility of conducting visits to newly established schools, meticulously inspecting their building fitness, determining appropriate fee structures, and swiftly addressing any concerns or objections raised by private schools.
Recognizing the urgency of the matter, the education secretary has issued stringent instructions to all district school registration authorities, mandating the completion of the approval process for new schools before the conclusion of the summer vacation. This directive underscores the commitment of the Ministry of Education to expedite the registration process and ensure that students can commence their educational journeys without unnecessary delays.
The Rawalpindi district’s private school associations have warmly welcomed this new initiative. In fact, they have also implored the authorities to grant immediate permission to open new schools for a duration of one year, while simultaneously approving all pending applications from private educational institutions. The private school associations believe that such measures will significantly contribute to the advancement of education in the region.
