THE academic session for O level students ended in April. Schools themselves marked this by holding farewell parties for the outgoing classes. Yet, several schools have issued fee challans to these students. No classes are held, no academic services are provided, and the students have already been bade farewell. Charging fee for the summer months is, therefore, unjustified and exploitative.

The Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions Sindh has repeatedly clarified that schools cannot charge fee for months when no educational services are rendered after a session concludes. Unfortunately, parents are being forced to pay under the threat of withholding exam-related documents.

Will the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department and the authorities concerned take immediate notice of this matter and direct private schools to withdraw challans? Education, after all, should not be allowed to turn into a commercial exercise.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026