Punjab private schools charge hefty annual funds, fee despite govt rules

LAHORE: The Punjab province has experienced private schools increasing their fees while charging an annual fund from parents in the range of Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000, with some schools demanding up to Rs.20,000 in annual fund.

Moreover, big chains of schools in the wake of the Lahore High Court (LHC) order asking the schools to provide such facility imposed transport charges on students, demanding an extra Rs.30,000 from parents for transport fund. Parents have complained that the District Education authorities and the provincial ministry of school education seem helpless in curbing the fee hikes.

In Pakistan, the reason behind this has been the government of Punjab initiating moves to outsource their schools, but the Education Ministry has not intervened against the private schools charging extra fees.

A member of the Punjab Assembly has even submitted an adjournment motion over exorbitant school fees, stating that no one is willing to take action against the powerful mafia of private schools.

Government staff-er, Murad Ali-infuriatingly mumbled, private schools are still selling books and uniforms, even against the orders of the court-and now they have raised their fees, demanding thousands for the so-called annual fund.

He questioned the government’s decision to outsource its schools despite being unable to regulate private institutions.

Secretary General of the Punjab Teachers Union, Rana Liaqat Ali, was against the outsourcing of schools, saying that no control over private schools would be there. He discussed the woes of the people facing price hikes of essential goods, and the outrageous hike in fees might make educations unaffordable.

However, All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association President Kashif Adeeb Jawadani said that private schools have been increasing the free as per law, hence collecting an annual fund.