Access to Quality Education in Pakistan
Access to Quality Education in Pakistan
by Muddaser Saeed*
Pakistan's education system comprises a total of 260,903 institutions, catering to 41,018,384 students and supported
by 1,535,461 teachers. Within this system, there are 180,846 public institutions and 80,057 private institutions.
Consequently, the private sector operates 31% of educational institutes, while the remaining 69% are public
institutes. On top of that, a significant number of youth do not go to school since they have to work from an early age or go to religious madrassah schools that run on a charity basis and often lack quality education in math, science, and other subjects for economic mobility.
The rise of dominant elite private school chains can be traced back to the late 1970s. These schools arose as a
response to what they perceived as a decline in the quality of education in public schools administered by the
government, particularly after Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's nationalization policy in 1972. Subsequently,
during President Ziaul Haq's regime, permission was granted for private investment in the education sector. As a
result, the number of private schools flourished, driven by the increasing numbers of the upper-middle and upper-
class population over the following two decades.
In the year 2017-2018, there was a significant surge in the private sector, accounting for 37.9% of all educational
institutions and 44.3% of total enrollments across Pakistan (Pakistan Education Statistics 2017-2018). Private schools
held a substantial share in the overall educational landscape, with 64.5% at the middle school level and 57.2% at the
high school level. Notably, some of the well-known private schools in Pakistan, supported by political entities, include
Beacon House School system, Headstart school system, Frobel International, Roots Millennium International School,
and City School.
To ensure the regulation of private institutes, the government of Pakistan decentralized the department of education
to the provinces through the 18th Constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, the federal government established an
education ministry to oversee and support educational institutions at the central level. In addition to the ministry,
the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) was established to enforce educational standards
and fee structures in private educational institutions. The aim was to make quality education accessible to middle
and upper middle class children. However, it is disheartening to observe that these mandatory requirements are
rarely implemented and often remain confined to paperwork. In many instances, officials from the registration
authority themselves fulfill these formalities using their discretionary powers.
One of the grieving reason is that mostly these private schools are owned or backed up by political families. As a
result, they are set loose to charge heavy fee to parents without considering any rules or regulations set by the
government authorities. From books to uniforms, they monopolies everything and parents are forced to buy all
school gear from the school itself or through their designated outlets and at prices that are usually much higher than
in the market. The result of this neglect on the government’s part is that some schools charge as much as Rs60,000
($220) to Rs80,000 ($284) every two months for kindergarten students, while paying peanuts to the teachers (books
and uniforms are not included in this costs). Although the need of the time is to regulate the fee of private
institutions which charge their students. Since education is a fundamental right of citizens, the government would be
justified in regulating the fees.
In the year 2015, the citizens of Islamabad took a stand against the unfair increase in tuition fees imposed by private
schools. To protect their hard-earned resources from being exploited, these residents formed an organization known
as the "Private School's Parent Association Islamabad-Pakistan." This association served as a collective voice to
address the issue of exorbitant fee hikes. Inspired by their efforts, parents in other provinces of Pakistan also
by 1,535,461 teachers. Within this system, there are 180,846 public institutions and 80,057 private institutions.
Consequently, the private sector operates 31% of educational institutes, while the remaining 69% are public
institutes. On top of that, a significant number of youth do not go to school since they have to work from an early age or go to religious madrassah schools that run on a charity basis and often lack quality education in math, science, and other subjects for economic mobility.
The rise of dominant elite private school chains can be traced back to the late 1970s. These schools arose as a
response to what they perceived as a decline in the quality of education in public schools administered by the
government, particularly after Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's nationalization policy in 1972. Subsequently,
during President Ziaul Haq's regime, permission was granted for private investment in the education sector. As a
result, the number of private schools flourished, driven by the increasing numbers of the upper-middle and upper-
class population over the following two decades.
In the year 2017-2018, there was a significant surge in the private sector, accounting for 37.9% of all educational
institutions and 44.3% of total enrollments across Pakistan (Pakistan Education Statistics 2017-2018). Private schools
held a substantial share in the overall educational landscape, with 64.5% at the middle school level and 57.2% at the
high school level. Notably, some of the well-known private schools in Pakistan, supported by political entities, include
Beacon House School system, Headstart school system, Frobel International, Roots Millennium International School,
and City School.
To ensure the regulation of private institutes, the government of Pakistan decentralized the department of education
to the provinces through the 18th Constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, the federal government established an
education ministry to oversee and support educational institutions at the central level. In addition to the ministry,
the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) was established to enforce educational standards
and fee structures in private educational institutions. The aim was to make quality education accessible to middle
and upper middle class children. However, it is disheartening to observe that these mandatory requirements are
rarely implemented and often remain confined to paperwork. In many instances, officials from the registration
authority themselves fulfill these formalities using their discretionary powers.
One of the grieving reason is that mostly these private schools are owned or backed up by political families. As a
result, they are set loose to charge heavy fee to parents without considering any rules or regulations set by the
government authorities. From books to uniforms, they monopolies everything and parents are forced to buy all
school gear from the school itself or through their designated outlets and at prices that are usually much higher than
in the market. The result of this neglect on the government’s part is that some schools charge as much as Rs60,000
($220) to Rs80,000 ($284) every two months for kindergarten students, while paying peanuts to the teachers (books
and uniforms are not included in this costs). Although the need of the time is to regulate the fee of private
institutions which charge their students. Since education is a fundamental right of citizens, the government would be
justified in regulating the fees.
In the year 2015, the citizens of Islamabad took a stand against the unfair increase in tuition fees imposed by private
schools. To protect their hard-earned resources from being exploited, these residents formed an organization known
as the "Private School's Parent Association Islamabad-Pakistan." This association served as a collective voice to
address the issue of exorbitant fee hikes. Inspired by their efforts, parents in other provinces of Pakistan also
established similar associations to combat the irregular and excessive fee increments imposed by schools.
Over the course of several years, parents persistently endeavored to diminish and halt the unfair escalation of fees.
Eventually, these endeavors transformed into protests in Islamabad and various other cities. Regrettably, the
government maintained silence due to their vested interests in these educational institutions. Consequently, the
parents and associations were compelled to seek the intervention of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Pakistan. The matter was duly brought to his attention, leading to the Chief Justice taking action in 2017 by
restraining the fee hike imposed by private schools.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many good short-term solutions to the education crisis in the country. The attitude of
billionaire school owners isn’t going to change and they’re going to fight regulation every step of the way. On the
other hand the government has not taken any action or relief measure for the parents in reduction of school fee
which continuous to be a burden on the parents. Thus the owners of the private institutions continue to charge
heavy fee to make million for their own luxury and benefits.
Lastly, we need to build a movement for free, quality education from kindergarten to high school for all Pakistanis, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and other backgrounds. We definitely need strong governmental regulation of private education. Students, parents, and people from all backgrounds should join this movement.
Over the course of several years, parents persistently endeavored to diminish and halt the unfair escalation of fees.
Eventually, these endeavors transformed into protests in Islamabad and various other cities. Regrettably, the
government maintained silence due to their vested interests in these educational institutions. Consequently, the
parents and associations were compelled to seek the intervention of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Pakistan. The matter was duly brought to his attention, leading to the Chief Justice taking action in 2017 by
restraining the fee hike imposed by private schools.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many good short-term solutions to the education crisis in the country. The attitude of
billionaire school owners isn’t going to change and they’re going to fight regulation every step of the way. On the
other hand the government has not taken any action or relief measure for the parents in reduction of school fee
which continuous to be a burden on the parents. Thus the owners of the private institutions continue to charge
heavy fee to make million for their own luxury and benefits.
Lastly, we need to build a movement for free, quality education from kindergarten to high school for all Pakistanis, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and other backgrounds. We definitely need strong governmental regulation of private education. Students, parents, and people from all backgrounds should join this movement.
*Muddasser Saeed is an Islamabad, Pakistan-based human rights activist.
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