Parents of children enrolled in private educational institutions in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have requested the authorities to take action against schools charging an annual fee in every new academic session.
According to parents, several private schools in the twin cities are allegedly charging admission fees, security fees, and other miscellaneous charges at the start of every new session under different heads, despite clear regulations by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA).
Parents complained that schools demand a lump sum ranging from Rs20,000 to Rs50,000 at the time of promotion to the next class, in addition to monthly tuition fees.
Many schools were charging the amount under the heads of annual charges, re-admission fee, or promotion fee, in violation of rules.
Talking to APP, parent Muhammad Asif said his two children study in a private school in G-11, and every March the school sends a fee voucher that includes an admission fee despite his children being old students.
“We pay Rs30,000 per child as annual charges. When we ask the administration, they say it is a system fee. It is not affordable for a middle-class family,” he said.
He stated that his children’s school increased annual charges by 40 percent this year without any justification, and alleged that no action was being taken on complaints submitted to PEIRA.
Another parent, Mrs Sadia, said she had to pay Rs75,000 for her two children at the start of the new session, despite them studying in the same school for three years.
“If a child is already admitted, why charge admission or annual fee again? It is just a money-making tactic,” she remarked.
Parents said some schools also withhold results and roll numbers if the annual fee is not deposited on time. They urged the concerned authority to take stern action against violators, audit the fee structures of private schools and ensure refund of illegally charged amounts.
They also demanded a uniform fee policy and a transparent complaint redressal mechanism, saying strict implementation of rules and regular monitoring could provide relief to thousands of parents already burdened by inflation and rising education costs.
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