Karachi (HRNW)- The School Education Department Sindh has directed private schools across the province, including Karachi, to immediately refund illegally collected fees from matriculation students for the months of April to July 2026.
The Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions Sindh took strict notice of complaints regarding private schools charging class 10 students fees during the examination period.
According to an official circular, several complaints were received stating that schools collected fees from students for months in which they were only appearing in board examinations.
Some schools argued that the additional charges were related to practical exams; however, the Directorate rejected this explanation and clarified that practical examination fees are already included in the regular monthly fee structure.
Authorities also noted that some schools justified the collection by claiming the academic session started in August 2025 and therefore fees could be charged until July 2026. The Directorate declared this practice illegal and in violation of steering committee decisions.
The department has directed all concerned schools to immediately refund the fees collected from April to July 2026. Authorities warned that strict legal action will be taken against institutions that fail to comply, including fines, suspension or cancellation of registration, and referral of cases to the education board.
The announcement further stated that inspection committees will visit schools and submit reports against institutions found violating the orders to ensure immediate enforcement of legal action.
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