KARACHI: The Sindh Government has taken strict notice of unauthorized fee hikes and hidden charges collected by private schools across the province. Professor Rafia Mallah, Additional Director General of Private Institutions Sindh, has issued an official directive warning schools that non-compliance will lead to heavy fines, suspension, or permanent cancellation of their registration. Under Rule 7(4) of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions Rules 2005, collecting any tuition fee above the approved rate or demanding hidden charges without prior approval from the Registration Authority is strictly prohibited.
To ensure compliance, the department has made it mandatory for all private schools to prominently display their approved fee structures on school notice boards and reception areas, while also providing a copy to parents upon request. Under Section 21 of the 2001 Ordinance, illegal fee collection is a punishable offense attracting hefty fines, and continuous violations will result in the suspension or cancellation of the school’s registration certificate under Section 8.
Furthermore, the provincial government has issued a strict 15-day deadline for all unregistered and illegally operating schools to apply for registration online via the official portal. The department clarified that no registration will be issued to schools failing to meet the infrastructure and facility standards set by the School Education Department. Substandard schools will be shut down with the assistance of local Deputy Commissioners, and their enrolled students will be adjusted into nearby institutions to secure their academic future.