Foundation Assisted Schools (PEF-FAS)

Foundation Assisted Schools (PEF-FAS)

Introduction

Education up to secondary level in public sector is free now and the students in government schools are provided free textbooks. But still low income households prefer to send their children to private schools, which have come to be identified with a measure of quality education. In urban areas where the social demand for education is strong, private educational institutions thrive.

The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has been restructured as an autonomous organization by an act of parliament in 2004 to support the efforts of the private sector in providing quality education to poor segment of the society. The PEF has been assigned the statutory responsibility to promote education through private educational institutions by establishing and nurturing Public Private Partnership.

1. Program Features
   PEF—FAS is the flagship program of the Punjab Education Foundation to encourage and promote the access to and improve the quality of education. PEF has demonstrated that through public private partnership, better quality education can be provided at much less cost as compared to the cost by the Government of Punjab to educate a child in the public schooling system. The target schools under PEF-FAS are financed up to a maximum of Rs.350 per month for Elementary Classes and Rs.400 for Secondary Classes as tuition fees and related/allied charges.
   1. The financial assistance to the recipient schools is linked with the satisfactory performance of the schools in QAT. Financial assistance will be discontinued in case the school does not meet the quality standards set by the PEF for QAT amended from time to time by BOD.
   2. Schools are regularly monitored by PEF staff to ensure the basic amenities and teaching aids.
   3. Good performance schools are awarded based on the QAT result. Modalities are decided by BOD.
2. Assistance to the Private Educational Institutions on Per Child Enrolled Basis and Criteria for Selection
   After entering into partnership with PEF under FAS program, the recipient schools shall not charge anything in any form from the students i.e. fines, recreation, books fee. Stationery etc.
   1. The following methodology is usually adopted for selecting the private schools:
      1. An advertisement would be placed in national dailies;
      2. Applications will be short listed as per criteria set by BOD.
      3. Schools will be Evaluated based on their performance in QAT and any other criteria set by BOD.
      4. The foundation will physically verify the information any time without prior notice.
      5. Selection of schools will be made subject to the availability of funds with Government.
      6. In response to the advertisement, the private schools may apply to the Punjab Education Foundation.
   2. Criteria for Selection of Private Schools Institution:
      1. Minimum enrollment of 100 students and maximum of 500 students.
      2. Preference to private schools located in rural areas.
      3. Physical infrastructure of schools in terms of building, classrooms, library and laboratories (in case of elementary and secondary schools) should be hygienic, congenial and conducive.
      4. The school should have qualified faculty.
      5. The students of the short listed schools will be administered a skill-based test in English, Urdu, Science and Mathematics before entering into partnership agreement.
      6. Girls’ education is the top priority and partnership with girls’ schools under PEF-FAS will be encouraged.
      7. Any other criteria set by PEF management.
   3. Schools will be evaluated based upon their performance in Preliminary QAT and other criteria set by BOD.
3. Terms of Partnership: 
   These terms are changeable and PEF-BOD reserves the rights to change these partnership terms any time with out prior notice to the partner schools.
   The Punjab Education Foundation is first party and the school administration is called second party in this agreement.
   1. That the partnership agreement shall commence on the date on which it is executed and signed and shall remain in force for five years or terminated by the first party on violation by the second party of any stipulation of this instrument.
   2. That the second party shall register itself with the District Registration Authority within one year after entering into partnership with the first party and in default thereof the first party may discontinue financial assistance under this partnership agreement.
   3. That the financial assistance to be provided to the second party will amount to Rs. 350/- for elementary and Rs. 400/- for Secondary classes per child enrolled per month to cover tuition fees stationary charges, paper money and allied charges like lab, library, co-curricular activities etc. At the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the First Party this amount may be increased to account for inflation and/or any other consideration.
   4. That from the date of execution of this agreement of partnership the second party shall not charge any tuition fee from enrolled students in whatsoever form, including, but not restricted to,