SIR: I would condemn the attitude of owners of private schools in Punjab, who close their educational institutions and deprive the students of their basic right. It is a clear violation of the constitution. The protest of the owners is against the Punjab government’s regulatory “Private Schools Act” passed by the Punjab Assembly. Now private schools will not be able to increase the fees themselves, instead they will have to get prior permission of the Registration Authority and give valid reasons for the fee hikes. The ugly situation that has been created by the private schools has to be tackled by the government. The government slept for years but now it has awakened. We should consider it sufficient. Yes, it is not true that all private schools are fleecing the parents in the name of fees, security and other expenses. We must appreciate their services. But the threats of strikes and closure of schools cannot be tolerated. The problem should be solved through negotiations with the government in an amicable manner. The owners of private schools are pointing towards the quality of education imparted by the government schools. It is indeed painful but not entirely incorrect. If the government had paid some serious attention to the government institutions we would not be facing this ugly situation. It is imperative to regulate private schools but at the same time the government should improve the performance of the governmental educational institutions. Private schools will automatically reduce their fees when competition is given by the government Schools. JAVAID BASHIR Via E-mail