Islamabad private schools accused of blocking mandatory free education

A serious gap in the private education sector has come under scrutiny after private schools in Islamabad were accused of failing to enforce a mandatory scholarship quota, potentially denying free education to thousands of students.

The matter surfaced during proceedings at the Islamabad High Court, where Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Mihas heard a petition related to private school fee structures.

According to a report submitted by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority, private educational institutions may be retaining between Rs5 billion and Rs6 billion each year by not implementing the legally required 10 percent free education quota.

Official data shows that 1,571 registered private schools in Islamabad currently serve around 389,000 students. Under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2012, nearly 38,900 students should be receiving free education, but most institutions have reportedly failed to meet that requirement.

Peira told the court it has issued notices to schools and started collecting relevant data, although many institutions remain out of compliance.

The authority has also set up a monitoring committee and warned that strict action could be taken under the law.

The case, however, took an unexpected turn when the petitioner withdrew the plea, bringing further court proceedings to a stop.

That development has sparked concern among legal experts, who say the withdrawal could allow non-compliant institutions to escape closer scrutiny.

Despite ongoing enforcement efforts and the government’s No Child Left Behind initiative, experts say proper implementation of the existing 10 percent quota could open the door to free education for many more students.