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ABBOTTABAD, Oct 14 (APP):The Peshawar High Court Abbottabad Bench Tuesday has issued a significant order suspending the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s notification regarding the privatization of public schools throughout the province.
The court has also sought formal replies from the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, and all Deputy Commissioners.
The decision came during the hearing of a petition filed by Dr. Muhammad Ishaq Zakariya Advocate and Sardar Shuja Ahmad, who challenged the provincial government’s plan to hand over management of public schools to private organizations. The petitioners argued that such a move was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution, which guarantees free and quality education to all children.
During the proceedings, the bench observed that education is a public service and that privatization may limit access for students belonging to low-income families. The court ordered that until the final decision of the case, no step shall be taken toward the privatization of public schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
While talking to APP, Dr. Muhammad Ishaq Zakariya hailed the court’s decision as a victory for the right to education. He stated,
“This judgment reflects the judiciary’s commitment to safeguard the educational rights of children in the province. The privatization initiative would have widened the gap between the rich and the poor, making quality education inaccessible to many.”
Dr. Zakariya further said that instead of privatization, the government should focus on improving the existing public school infrastructure, addressing teacher shortages, and ensuring transparency in educational reforms. He emphasized that education should remain a state responsibility and not be treated as a commercial commodity.