The private schools in the capital are fleecing parents by charging hefty amounts in absence of any active regulatory authority to control fee structures.
Private Schools Network President Dr Afzal Babar said that Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has held meetings with the heads of private schools several times but they refused to cooperate and rationalise fee structures.
Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) was formed in the year 2006 with a mandate to register and regulate the private schools but still lacks powers to control fee structures in the private schools.
The authority is without any chairperson after the retirement of Ghayur Sultana on March, 18.
Dr Afzal Babar said PEIRA issues registration certificates to the private schools on the basis of a proper fee structure which bounds these schools not to enhance fee without approval of the authority.
However, the private schools are charging exorbitant fee and funds from the students and some of these enhance fee three or four times in a year, he added.
The parents of students studying in the private schools always wanted some authority to control the schools from charging exorbitant fees.
Shahid Akram, a parent said majority of the private schools have become money minting machines with no regulatory framework and their fee structure do not match their standard of education. While the public schools, which charge lesser fee, lack the capacity to accommodate more students, he observed.
Shagufta Khan, a mother of a child who is studying in a leading private school said the school administration is charging high fee and there is no relaxation for anyone. The schools ask for funds repeatedly during a year, making it very difficult for parents to fulfil unreasonable demands, she added.