Final Deadline Issued: Private Schools Must Offer Free Education to 10% of Students in Islamabad

Private educational institutions operating in Islamabad have been instructed to strictly adhere to a final compliance deadline of June 30, 2026, requiring them to provide free education to at least 10% of eligible and financially disadvantaged students under the provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012. The directive was issued during a high-level session of the Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (ICT-PEIRA), presided over by Chairman Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, where the implementation status of scholarship quotas in private schools was thoroughly reviewed. Officials expressed serious concern over the persistent failure of numerous institutions to submit mandatory data regarding need-based scholarships, despite repeated reminders and formal notices. Dr. Mallah reiterated that ensuring educational access for underprivileged children remains a top regulatory priority, adding that children identified through ongoing Out-of-School Children (OOSC) enrollment drives will be given preferential admission under the quota system. Authorities further warned that institutions failing to comply by the deadline will face restrictions on registration renewals, public disclosure of non-compliant schools, and potential coordination with examination boards. In addition, legal consequences under the ICT-PEIRA Act, 2013, including fines and possible administrative referrals, may also be enforced. Meanwhile, compliant schools were acknowledged and appreciated for fulfilling their obligations toward educational equity and social responsibility, reinforcing the government’s commitment to inclusive education reforms across the federal capital.