SHC puts brakes on lump-sum summer school fees

Private schools told to issue vacation fee notices in May and give parents separate deadlines for June and July paymen sindh high court. File The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday restrained private schools from collecting fees for June and July in a single payment, directing them to give parents separate deadlines for paying the dues for each month. Hearing a petition challenging the collection of summer vacation fees and the compulsory purchase of books and uniforms, the bench observed that schools should issue notices for summer vacation fees in May instead of April. The court directed schools to give parents until June 30 to pay the fee for June and until July 30 to clear the dues for July. The petitioner's counsel argued that schools began issuing notices as early as April and handed parents two fee vouchers at once for the summer vacation months. He maintained that collecting vacation fees in this manner was unlawful, arguing that schools held no activities during the holidays. A government lawyer and a representative of the Directorate of Private Schools appeared before the court during the hearing. On the issue of books and uniforms, the court directed the Directorate of Private Schools and the other parties to resolve the matter through consultations. It ordered them to hold a meeting within two weeks to reach a solution. After issuing the directions, the court disposed of the petition.