Parents Urge PM Shahbaz and CM Maryam Nawaz to Regulate Private School Fees
Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are calling on Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to intervene and implement strict regulation of private educational institutions’ fee structures. Parents claim that these schools are financially exploiting families amid an absence of government oversight.
They argue that sending children to private schools has become unaffordable for middle-income households, with institutions demanding a long list of charges — including admission, security, monthly tuition, examination, lab, maintenance, health, and even grade transition fees. Parents blame the lack of effective regulation for this unchecked pricing.
“Some schools waive admission fees, but their monthly fees are outrageously high,” said one parent. Access to public sector schools is limited, and many believe Punjab’s government schools offer poor-quality education, leaving families with no viable option.
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The Private School Parents Association, supported by civil society groups, has organized protests demanding the government implement enforceable regulations to curb this exploitation. “We’re treated like ATMs,” said Tasleem Satti, a parent who criticized the mandate to purchase expensive uniforms and textbooks from designated shops. She added that PEIRA (Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority) and CADD (Capital Administration and Development Division) have failed to take meaningful action.
Another parent, Asma Saeed, condemned the unregulated annual fee hikes, accusing private school owners of operating like a cartel. Concerns were also raised about a prominent private college forcing parents to pay fees for the next academic year before the current session’s exams had even concluded. This premature demand has left many families distressed and financially burdened.
Parents have outlined clear demands: regulate and reduce tuition fees, provide transparent annual charge breakdowns, allow purchase of uniforms and supplies from open markets, eliminate hidden fees, and offer flexible payment options including cheques and credit cards.
While some school administrators acknowledged the concerns and cited financial challenges of running educational institutions, many parents remain unsatisfied. They continue to question where to turn for accessible, quality education if neither public nor private systems meet expectations.
