Sindh Ombudsman takes notice of arbitrary fee hikes in schools

Parents in Sindh province have lodged piles of complaints with the provincial ombudsman over arbitrary fee increases and other practices by private schools.

The complaints include arbitrary annual increases in school fees, compulsory changes to uniforms and the sale of expensive textbooks and educational materials through designated vendors.

The complaints were raised during a hearing chaired by Sindh Ombudsman, Muhammad Sohail Rajput.

Senior education officials, including the special secretary for education, the director general of private schools and an additional director, also attended the hearing.

Parents took the stand that some private schools were increasing fees every year in violation of regulations, placing an additional financial burden on families.

They also complained that some schools required students to purchase new uniforms every two years, while textbooks and other educational materials had to be bought from specific vendors at what parents described as inflated prices.

Some parents said younger siblings were not allowed to use course books purchased by their older brothers or sisters in the previous academic year, forcing families to buy new sets of books.

Sindh Ombudsman, Muhammad Rajput, took notice of the complaints and directed the director general of private schools to submit a report by Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

He said action would be taken against private schools found to be violating the law.