WITH public education in the doldrums, private schooling in Pakistan is often the first choice for many parents despite the steep increase in tuition fee every year. It was the skyrocketing school fees that prompted concerned parents in Sindh to petition the high court earlier this year. This week, they emerged victorious when the court ruled in their favour, noting that a spike in fees beyond the annual 5pc is in violation of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Ordinance, 2001. The ruling stated, among other things, that private schools violating the law must either refund the extra amount charged or adjust it in future bills within three months. Parents alleged that increases were between 12pc and 60pc. Meanwhile, schools justify the stiffer fees saying that the hikes reflect inflation in the form of increased prices of basic amenities and services, including water and electricity, mandatory security measures, teachers’ salaries, etc. Although private education is a profit-making venture that offers better quality for premium prices, and not a charitable enterprise, most schools are becoming too expensive for even middle-class working families to send their children to. The solution lies in maintaining standards while ensuring affordability, but the reality is that there is little competition from public schools that are unequipped to offer the same learning experience. The fee challenge is evident in the other provinces as well. For example, while many families will pay for private schooling no matter what the cost, parents have protested in KP and Punjab. Often the dispute turns into a prolonged stand-off. To avoid such a situation, there is a need to form arbitration bodies — whether headed by provincial governments with private-sector education partners or a mix of school and parent representatives — to settle the matter.

While monitoring education services, the government should institute a uniform regulatory system overseeing private schooling expenses and profits as a way of adjusting fees accordingly. At the end of the day, the rising demand for private schools can be attributed to the abysmal quality of education in government schools. If Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke of education as a pressing issue, surely it must feature on top of his government’s 100-day to-do list. The state must start working towards bridging the expanding education gap between the rich and poor and ensure that all school-going children have access to free, quality learning.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2018