KARACHI: Parents across Pakistan are facing mounting pressure as private schools continue to engage in Private School Exploitation Pakistan, charging exorbitant fees and imposing unnecessary costs on students, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor on Sunday. He urged the government to step in and protect families from these exploitative practices.
Altaf Shakoor highlighted that due to the substandard quality of government schools, most parents are compelled to enroll their children in private institutions. However, these schools capitalize on the situation, forcing parents to purchase uniforms, textbooks, and stationery from designated stores at inflated rates, often double or triple the market price. Beyond steep tuition fees, parents are repeatedly coerced into paying for various school functions and activities, reinforcing the ongoing Private School Exploitation Pakistan.
The PDP chairman also criticized private schools for not adhering to government policies requiring free admission for a certain percentage of students and avoiding audits to escape tax obligations. “The government is aware of these malpractices, yet corrupt elements within the education bureaucracy continue to protect these institutions,” Shakoor said, demanding a thorough audit of private school owners’ assets to curb tax evasion and accountability loopholes.
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He further pointed out that many private schools operate on amenity plots of cooperative societies, which is illegal since these schools are purely commercial ventures rather than social welfare entities. The lack of enforcement by regulatory departments perpetuates Private School Exploitation Pakistan, depriving low-income families of access to affordable quality education.
Shakoor called on agencies such as NAB, FIA, anti-corruption authorities, and the education department to take strict action against these exploitative schools. He stressed the need for improving government schools as well, proposing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance learning outcomes and performance, positioning public schools as a viable alternative for children from underprivileged families.
He also emphasized that Pakistan’s education system requires a complete overhaul to produce skilled manpower suited to modern job market demands. Shakoor recommended incorporating vocational training at all stages of education to equip students with practical skills, thereby reducing dependency on costly private institutions and addressing systemic issues contributing to Private School Exploitation Pakistan.
