No information on whether local authorities must first grant permission or issue a permit before private schools can open in villages in Pakistan could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, a June 2002 article, reporting on new guidelines to regulate religious educational institutions, stated that new Madaris wishing to open must be given clearance by the District Nazim, after which permission must be gained from the Education Board (Pakistan Observer 21 June 2002). The article further stated that the provinces have been given instructions to take the "necessary measures to regulate [the] working of private schools and colleges as well" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Pakistan Observer. 21 June 2002. Aroosa Alam. "Government to Spend Rs 13.69 b on Madaris." http://www.pakobserver.net/june2002/21/front/03.shtml [Accessed 14 Aug. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Oral sources:

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the Pakistan Ministry of Education

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the Society for the Advancement of Education in Pakistan

Internet sites including:

BBC

Dawn

Dawn Wire Service

Frontier Post

Ministry of Education

News International

Pakistan News Service

Rediff

The Tribune

UNICEF

UN News

World News Connection

Search engines:

Google