Peira Tightens Noose on Islamabad Private Schools

ISLAMABAD: The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) has issued notices to more than 1,000 private schools in Islamabad for failing to submit mandatory compliance reports.

According to sources, these institutions were granted registration on the condition that they address shortcomings such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of classrooms, lack of libraries and laboratories, and insufficient teaching staff. Schools were required to submit compliance reports after rectifying these deficiencies highlighted during the registration or renewal process.

A Peira official said the authority does not assume non-compliance but stressed that the actual status will become clear once the reports are submitted. Meanwhile, around 200 private schools are reportedly operating in Islamabad without registration, while a similar number failed to renew their registrations despite continuing operations.

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Peira said many private schools are also paying teachers below the minimum wage fixed by the federal government. In a press release, the authority confirmed that notices have been issued to 1,087 registered private schools and colleges, directing them to submit compliance reports within 15 working days.
Peira Chairman Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah has formed monitoring committees to conduct surprise inspections of these institutions. The inspection findings will serve as a benchmark for renewal or cancellation of registration. He said stricter monitoring would help improve academic standards and ensure quality education for students.

Sources added that weak regulatory enforcement has allowed several schools to violate fee regulations despite Supreme Court directives limiting annual fee increases to a maximum of eight percent. Dr Mallah assured that Peira would strictly enforce fee rules, protect the rights of parents and teachers, and has activated a complaint cell for parents to report excessive fee hikes.