Parents’ woes: Children, parents protest against exorbitant fee structures

'My father is not an ATM'- slogan read on a protesting student's placard

ISLAMABAD: “Stop Educational Terrorism”, “My Father is not an ATM”, “My PM! Expensive Educational Clubs, This is not what I voted for”, Don’t Snatch Our Rights, Implement PEIRA Rules 2016, CJP Please Help!” these were some of the slogans children studying in private schools were chanting and had written on placards as they staged a protest on Saturday.

This was the second protest parents and their children studying in elite private schools held at National Press Club Islamabad to demand regulation of private schools’ fee structures as there is no check on them due to prolonged litigations pending in various courts.

The protesting parents and children appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice how non-implementation of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) rules 2016 has given a license to private schools to exploit the rights of our children.



“Who is to be held responsible for this situation and who is going to address public issues if not the highest forums the parents are looking up to,” questioned one of the parents.

Implementation of Peira rules 2016 that has been suspended by the Islamabad High Court and still under litigation despite the passage of two years that is the only solution to address parents’ issues on fee, learning outcomes and required standards, they explained.

Since these rules are in litigation the schools have been increasing fee over 40-45% every year under the cover of IHC decision, they complained.

Due to non-implementing Peira rules 2016, no law/ criteria exist for operating schools in Islamabad. Anyone qualifying or not to operate school is operating schools in Islamabad (other cities too) without complying with minimum criteria required in Peira rules 2016.

Taking advantage of the situation, private schools are teaching different curriculum that suits them whether that gives holistic learning and desired output in practical life or not. There are also no criteria of hiring of teaching staff, their qualifications, experience and subject specialisation in schools.

The schools are not following student to teacher ratios, minimum class room size with proper ventilation and other standards in school building. Non-implementing of Peira rules 2016 is also strengthening drug peddlers and networks to operate freely in schools. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2018.