Parents Demand Action Against Schools Charging Illegal Annual Fees

Parents of students at private schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are calling for the government to take enforcement action against institutions that charge annual fees each academic year. These schools are alleged to be collecting admission fees, security fees and miscellaneous charges under different names, despite clear rules set by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA).

Parents claim schools demand a one-time payment of between Rs20,000 and Rs50,000 when students move up a grade, on top of regular tuition fees. Some schools are charging this amount under various headings like annual charges, re-admission fee or promotion fee, which is seen as a breach of regulations. Muhammad Asif, whose two children attend a school in G-11, says he pays Rs30,000 per child each year as an 'annual charge', which he describes as unaffordable for a middle-class family.

The school recently increased these charges by 40 percent without explanation. Mrs Sadia, whose children have studied at the same school for three years, paid Rs75,000 at the start of the latest term. She asks why the school charges admission or annual fees again when the children are already enrolled. Some schools reportedly withhold grades and enrollment numbers if the annual fee is not paid on time, creating an additional financial burden for parents.

Parents are demanding stern penalties for violators, a thorough audit of fee structures, and a refund for illegally charged amounts. They also want a consistent fee policy and a transparent system for handling complaints, arguing that strict rule enforcement and regular monitoring could ease the financial strain on families coping with inflation and rising education costs.