The Elementary and Secondary Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has issued a strict directive to all provincial education boards, ordering them to halt matriculation and intermediate examinations for students enrolled in private high and higher secondary schools that are not registered with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (KP-PSRA). The move comes as part of a wider crackdown to enforce compliance under the KP Private Schools Regulatory Authority Act, 2017.
Officials revealed that a total of 387 private schools across the province, including the merged districts, remain unregistered yet continue to send their students for board examinations. “Operating without registration is illegal under Section 21 of the KP-PSRA Act, 2017, and no school is allowed to function or affiliate with boards without proper approval,” an official from the Education Department said.
The largest number of unregistered institutions, 196 schools, are affiliated with the Peshawar Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. Other boards with unregistered schools include Swat with 100, Mardan with 47, Malakand with 10, Dera Ismail Khan with four, Abbottabad with 15, and Bannu with 12 schools. Authorities say this widespread non-compliance has prompted immediate action to protect students and uphold regulatory standards.
Under the department’s orders, all boards are required to de-affiliate these unregistered schools and ensure that their students are not allowed to sit for matriculation or intermediate examinations. Officials emphasized that registration with KP-PSRA is mandatory, and affiliation with a board alone does not grant a school the legal right to operate. “We are committed to enforcing the law uniformly,” said a senior KP-PSRA official.
So far, KP-PSRA has successfully registered 11,587 private schools in the province. The Education Department has stated that formal de-affiliation proceedings for the unregistered institutions will commence after receiving final approval from the Chief Minister. The authorities stressed that this step is crucial to maintain educational standards and prevent unregulated schools from exploiting students and parents.
Education experts have welcomed the move, noting that unregistered schools often operate without proper infrastructure, qualified staff, or adherence to the curriculum. “This action will ensure that students are enrolled in institutions that meet the province’s academic and administrative standards,” said a local education analyst.
Parents and students affected by the de-affiliation are advised to verify the registration status of their schools before enrolling or appearing in board examinations. The Education Department has also urged all private schools to complete registration with KP-PSRA to avoid disruptions during the upcoming academic sessions.
With board examinations approaching, the crackdown marks a significant step by the KP government to tighten oversight and ensure accountability in the private education sector. Authorities insist that non-compliance will no longer be tolerated, signaling a new era of regulated private schooling in the province.
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