Parents cry foul over ‘exorbitant’ private school fees, urge govt intervention

Rawalpindi:The residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have appealed to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to regulate the fee structure of private educational institutions, alleging that these institutions are "looting parents with both hands."

Parents claim that gaining admission to private schools and colleges has become nearly impossible for the average citizen due to a barrage of fees, including admission charges, security deposits, tuition, lab and exam fees, monthly maintenance fees, health charges, ID card issuance, and even level change costs. They blame the government for giving private schools a free hand to exploit parents without oversight.

“Some schools may waive the admission fee, but their monthly charges are sky-high,” said one parent. Meanwhile, access to federal government schools remains difficult, and many parents believe the standard of education in Punjab government schools is disappointingly low.

The Private School Parents Association and members of civil society have staged protests, demanding immediate action against what they describe as predatory practices of private school administrations. They urged the authorities to devise a transparent mechanism to monitor and regulate private school fee structures.

“Private schools treat parents like ATM machines,” said Tasleem Satti, whose daughter studies at a private institution. “They force us to purchase overpriced uniforms and textbooks that are only available through the school itself.”

She accused the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) of turning a blind eye to the problem. “We’ve raised this issue with the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) as well, but nothing has come of it,” she added.

Another parent, Asma Saeed, expressed her frustration: “Every year, private schools hike fees on their own. These school owners operate like a mafia, and we won’t tolerate it anymore.” She explained that parents are burdened with a wide range of charges, including unjustified annual fees and inflated book and stationery costs.

A prominent private college has also demanded advance fee installments for second-year classes—even before first-year examinations have been conducted or roll numbers issued. This premature demand has left many parents distressed, as they struggle to meet the financial burden without any assurance of their children’s academic progression. Several families have voiced their frustration, pointing out the unfairness of being forced to pay for a new academic year while their children haven’t even completed the current one. With no roll numbers in hand and no alternative institutions willing to accommodate mid-session transfers, parents feel trapped and compelled to comply with the college’s unreasonable demands just to secure their children’s future.

Parents have compiled a list of demands, including a revision of monthly tuition fees, justification for annual charges, elimination of mandatory purchases from school-approved vendors, the right to buy uniforms from stores of their choice, a ban on surprise or hidden charges and introduction of flexible payment methods, such as cheques, credit cards, pay orders, and cash.

Some private school administrations, when contacted by The News, acknowledged the concerns raised by parents. “We understand that paying school fees for multiple children is difficult, but running a school is also a complex and often thankless task,” a representative said.

Frustrated parents, however, continue to ask a pressing question: Where should we go with our children if both government and private schools fail to offer affordable and quality education?