Private schools in Sindh have been directed to revise their fee practices, particularly for matriculation students, who can now only be charged fees up to March. Authorities have clearly prohibited institutions from collecting any additional charges from students appearing in board examinations, ensuring financial relief during a critical academic period.
A new fee structure has also been introduced for students transitioning from Class IX to Class X. This step aims to remove confusion regarding payments during the shift to the next academic level and to make the process more transparent for both students and parents.
Under the updated policy, private schools are allowed to collect fees for the months of June and July in advance, specifically during April and May. However, strict conditions have been imposed to maintain clarity. Schools must issue separate fee vouchers for each month rather than combining them. Additionally, each voucher will have a defined validity period—June fee vouchers will remain valid until June 30, while July vouchers can be used until July 31.
The revised fee system applies to students from pre-primary classes up to Class IX. The main objective behind these changes is to standardize fee collection procedures across private institutions and provide greater transparency and accountability.
The issue of advance fee collection recently gained attention when the Sindh High Court intervened in a case involving a ninth-grade student. The court granted conditional permission for the student to appear in upcoming examinations amid a dispute over early fee demands.
According to case details, the student’s family challenged a private school in Karachi for issuing advance fee challans for June and July, arguing that such demands violated established regulations. The court’s involvement highlighted the need for clearer policies, which the government has now addressed through these updated guidelines.
