The Punjab School Education Department has told a provincial assembly committee that it has no legal mechanism to determine the fees initially charged by private schools.
During a meeting of the Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on School Education, officials clarified that the department can regulate annual fee increases but cannot set a standard fee structure for private educational institutions.
Committee Questions Limited Regulation
Committee members expressed concern that some private schools charge fees ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of rupees, making education unaffordable for many families.
They questioned why the department could register private schools but lacked sufficient authority to control their fee structures and enforce wider checks.
Officials said existing regulations mainly restrict how much schools can increase fees each year rather than deciding the original amount.
Committee members called for stronger action against institutions violating education rules, including cancellation of registration in serious cases.
The discussion highlighted the need for a clearer regulatory framework covering private school fees, facilities and accountability across Punjab.
