Senate Panel Orders Private Schools to Revise Unjustified Fee Increases

A Senate panel on Monday expressed serious concern over what it termed “uncontrolled fee hikes” by private schools operating in the federal capital, urging stronger enforcement of regulations to protect parents from financial burden.

The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt. The committee noted that despite clear guidelines set by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), several schools had raised fees far beyond the permitted limit.

Under PEIRA regulations, private schools in Islamabad are allowed to increase tuition fees by up to 5 percent annually, with a maximum of 8 percent allowed for high-performing institutions. However, the committee observed that many upscale schools had increased fees by as much as 12 percent, in violation of a 2021 notification.

Senator Bushra Butt condemned the unregulated fee hikes and directed schools charging Rs50,000 or more in unjustified fees to revise their challans immediately. She also sought updated lists of schools that had exceeded the approved limits.

PEIRA officials informed the committee that schools were not allowed to compel parents to purchase books or uniforms from specific vendors, and any violations would be addressed under the existing policy. The committee urged stricter action against institutions defying the fee determination policy.