Punjab government’s decision to extend registration period of private schools from one year to five years will benefit thousands of private educational institutions operating across the province. By reducing frequency of renewals, government has rightly sought to ease administrative burdens and provide greater stability to private schools, many of which play a vital role in meeting growing demand for education.
There is no denying the fact that private schools have become an indispensable part of our education landscape. Facilitating them through longer registration periods is a positive move that acknowledges their contribution and allows them to focus more on academic delivery rather than bureaucratic compliance.However, while facilitation is necessary, it must not come at the cost of accountability. There has been a mushroom growth of private schools. While some of these institutions are genuinely committed to delivering quality education, a large majority exist merely as commercial ventures. Such schools often lack proper infrastructure, qualified teachers and academic standards, yet continue to charge hefty fees, effectively playing with the future of children.Therefore, it is imperative that registration process incorporates a robust mechanism to monitor and ensure quality.
Registration should not be a mere formality. It must involve thorough scrutiny of school infrastructure, availability of trained and competent faculty, student-teacher ratios and basic learning facilities. Periodic inspections and performance evaluations should be made mandatory to ensure that educational standards are upheld throughout the registration period.Another pressing concern is unchecked increase in school fees. Given that parents now largely depend on private schools for their children’s education, there is a strong case for a transparent and fair fee regulation policy. Such a policy would protect parents from exploitation while still allowing schools to meet their operational costs and invest in quality improvement.
