Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) should publish a detailed report from the Private Education Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) to see if elite private schools in the capital comply with the statutory (
The court issued the directive at a hearing, which emphasized the non-implementation of the Free and Mandatory Right to Education Act of 2012.
Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas asked Pera to submit a comprehensive report under Article 10 of the bill and explain how many poor students have been accepted by private schools since the law came into effect. The court also directed the institution to obtain reports from all schools in the Capital Territory of Islamabad (ICT) and submit them at the next hearing.
The petitioner’s consultation noted that even though the bill was enacted in 2012, it was implemented only in 2015, compliance remained negligible despite a considerable period of time.
He believes that under the law, all private schools in all private schools must allocate at least 10% of each class to vulnerable children and provide them with free education, but this provision has not been implemented in practice.
Lawyers argue that Peira, as a designated regulator, failed to fulfill her obligation to ensure compliance with the law.
“It is certain that each private agency ensures that its legal liability is the only bond to the defendant,” he said.
The court took note of this argument and pointed out that the matter was related to the basic right of children belonging to poor families to obtain education. The judicial says that despite the clear provisions of the law, the issue has been ongoing for years and that regulatory agencies are effective in implementing the issue.
The court’s order emphasized that Peira must provide verifiable data to be accepted by vulnerable students since the beginning of the bill.
It also called for authorization to explain what steps have been taken so far to ensure the implementation of a 10% quota and whether any surveillance mechanism or enforcement actions have been initiated for schools that failed to comply.
Education activists have long criticized the lack of enforcement of the 2012 bill, noting that while the law provides mandatory education for all children aged five to 16, its provisions are still on paper.
Section 10 specifically signed binding bonds on private schools to accommodate selfless children without fees in exchange for the benefits and recognition they receive from the state.
Despite repeated assurances by the government in the past, ground reality shows that thousands of children in the federal capital have been deprived of private education due to economic barriers.
The case has now been adjourned and Peira is expected to submit her comprehensive report by or before October 8.
Posted in Dawn on September 29, 2025
