Children carry placards with messages education is not business; it is basic right
Fida Hussnain
In a strong show of unity, parents under the banner of the Parents Action Council (PAC) gathered at a marriage hall near Defence Road to protest against what they called an illegal and unjustified fee hike by private schools—particularly the International School Lahore (ISL) ahead of summer vacations.
Carrying placards with bold messages like “We are parents, not ATM machines” and “No fee until low fee,” the protestors—joined by their children—voiced growing concerns over sharp fee increases, some reportedly as high as 30%, without any legal approval or consultation with families.
“We will not accept what behavior they [ISL] have committed with our families.
We just want better education and nothing else, but they want profit,” said Dr.Khalid, one of the protesting parents.
Stressing that schools have the right to charge fees only within legal bounds, he added, “We try our best and hope for the best.”
Rana Ajmal, another prominent voice at the protest, emphasized that the issue isn’t just about ISL but affects families across Lahore.
“This is all about rules and regulations, and this is not about fee,” he said.
He urged parents to stop staying silent.
“If we the parents do not pay fee, these schools cannot work,” he declared.
“The schools’ managements cannot kick your children out if you people are united.
” One parent, whose daughter attends playgroup at ISL, said, “If the fee is increased under the law or if it is increased by 5 percent or 8 percent under the law, then we can accept it—but if it is hiked by 25 percent to 30 percent, then we will not accept it.
” Mr.Ayub, another protestor, described the fee hike as part of a larger issue: “This is not about a particular school but about the whole private school mafia which is minting money in the name of education.
” He also recounted an incident where a woman and her daughter were allegedly detained by school authorities over unpaid fees.
“I told them I would call the police if they weren’t released—and they let them go in a few minutes,” he said.
Parents say the sudden fee hikes have already drawn attention from the Punjab Assembly and education authorities, including Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.
“We will raise this issue at every legal forum,” said Rana Ayub, noting that the hikes—ranging from 25% to 28%—violate statutory norms and lack transparency.
“Education is a fundamental right, not a commodity.
This hike is both illegal and unethical,” he added.
The PAC confirmed that it has formally filed a complaint with the DRA Education Board and is exploring legal remedies in collaboration with legal experts and child rights organizations.
“Our priority is the well-being and access to education for all children.
We will not allow profiteering in the name of education,” said one mother who attended with her daughter.
As the movement gains momentum, Lahore’s parents are making one thing clear: they want fair education, not financial exploitation.
