K-P sees steady increase in enrollment

PA debates high fee structure in private schools

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was presented with detailed statistics regarding government schools, teachers, and students in Peshawar.

According to the Education Department on Tuesday, there are a total of 1,619 government schools under the board's jurisdiction, including 891 for boys and 728 for girls.

The number of teachers across these institutions is 16,300 with 6,985 male and 9,315 female teachers.

The report further revealed that in the latest examinations, the number of male students stood at 2,722,225, while female students numbered 2,699,416.

Comparative figures also showed a steady increase in enrollment over the past five years.

In 2020, there were 243,396 boys and 170,000 girls enrolled. By 2024, the number rose to 256,498 boys and 221,739 girls, reflecting a significant growth in both categories.

The assembly also witnessed a heated debate on the number of private schools and their fee structures. The matter was eventually referred to the committee concerned for further discussion.

During the session, PML-N lawmaker Jalal Khan demanded details regarding the total number of private schools in the province and their current fee structures.

Responding to the query, Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Ajab Gul, stated that private schools are categorised into seven groups, all regulated by the authority, adding that private schools are investments but must also maintain certain educational standards.

PML-N's Sobia Shahid, however, objected to the response, arguing that the fee figures presented were outdated. "The actual fees being charged today are much higher," she said.

Speaker of the Assembly advised her to provide evidence to the minister concerned, assuring that action would be taken against such schools if found violating regulations.