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The Sindh Education Department has declared it illegal for private schools affiliated with the Cambridge examination system to cancel enrollments or force students to appear as private candidates, providing major relief to affected students.
In a circular issued by the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions Sindh, Additional Registrar Prof. Rafia Mallah said multiple complaints were received against private schools affiliated with Cambridge International Examinations via the British Council Pakistan.
Some schools reportedly prevented students from appearing as regular candidates, citing low attendance or poor internal performance, while continuing to charge full academic fees. Students were later compelled to register as private candidates without sufficient justification, causing academic and psychological harm.
The department clarified that under the Sindh Private Educational Institutions Regulation and Control Rules, 2005, schools cannot introduce or enforce admission or continuation policies without prior approval. Any such policy is illegal and unenforceable.
The circular emphasized that responsibility for academic performance lies with school administrations and teaching staff, not the students. Schools must provide proper instruction, monitoring, and remedial support rather than penalizing students.
The directorate has ordered all concerned schools to immediately stop such practices and warned that violations will result in legal action under relevant laws.
