DESPITE the establishment of the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), many private schools are not adhering to the prescribed curriculum, fee structures and govern- ment directives.

The provincial government had es-tablished PSRA to promote a uniform system of education, which was a commendable step appreciated by all the relevant stakeholders. However, despite its establishment, the authority has largely failed to achieve its objectives.

Most private schools are still prescribing expensive books from various publishers that are often unrelated to the local context. They are doing this just to make money through commissions.

When questioned about the rationale behind these books, they fail to provide a satisfactory explanation. This practice burdens parents financially, and compro-mises the quality of education.

Many schools charge exorbitant fee, including activity charges, without a clear policy. This is despite the existence of court orders and PSRA regulations that aim at regulating fee structures across the board. Parents are burdened with additional charges, and students are humiliated for delayed fee payments.

Private schools are also disregarding government directives, such as starting the academic session on time, following the scheme of studies, and conducting examinations as per the prescribed schedule. This disregard for government rules is alarming, and reflects a lack of accountability.

The health and wellbeing of students are being ignored by many private schools when they continue to conduct exami- nations in extreme weather conditions, and the schedule is often unrealistic.

This affects students’ performance as well as their physical and mental health. The PSRA must take immediate action to address all these critical concerns.

Dr Amir Atiq
Haripur

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2025