In a major development, the Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad Bench has suspended the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s notification to privatize public schools, halting the move until further notice. The court also directed the Chief Secretary, Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, and all Deputy Commissioners to submit detailed written responses on the matter.
The KP government’s privatization plan aimed to transfer management of public schools to private organizations, claiming it would improve performance and accountability. However, the move sparked criticism from educators and civil society, who warned it could undermine free education guarantees under Article 25-A of Pakistan’s Constitution.
The suspension order was issued during a hearing on a petition filed by advocates Dr. Muhammad Ishaq Zakariya and Sardar Shuja Ahmad, who argued that privatizing government schools would restrict access for children from low-income families.
During proceedings, the bench observed that education is a fundamental public service, and its privatization could widen social inequality.
“The privatization policy would have deepened social inequality, restricting quality education to only those who could afford it,” said Dr. Zakariya, speaking to reporters after the hearing.
The court ordered the KP government to halt any further privatization steps until the case is fully adjudicated.
Dr. Zakariya praised the ruling as a “victory for education rights,” urging the government to focus instead on strengthening public schools through better funding, teacher training, and infrastructure upgrades.
“Education must remain a public responsibility, not a commercial enterprise,” he added.