Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah, Chairman of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority, convened representatives of all private schools associations in Islamabad to coordinate efforts that ensure every child can attend school and to reduce the number of out-of-school children across the capital. The meeting focused on practical steps to improve education access for vulnerable families.
The primary agenda was to collect updated information on the implementation of the policy that reserves 10% free education for deserving students, with special attention to orphans and the children of martyrs. Dr Mallah commended the role of private schools in supporting government initiatives and asked associations to submit verified data to help identify children currently out of school.
Representatives agreed to provide details of available admission seats in 36 vulnerable Union Councils of the Islamabad Capital Territory so authorities can target enrolment efforts. Several schools also volunteered to open their premises during evening hours to run non-formal education programs, a step aimed at improving education access for children who cannot attend daytime classes.
PEIRA officers and school delegates discussed ways to streamline cooperation, and Dr Mallah reiterated the authority’s commitment to facilitate the private education sector and address concerns promptly. He also proposed enabling students from private schools to use government sports facilities, highlighting the importance of physical activity alongside academic learning for overall child development.
The meeting noted that 70 pending applications for new schools have now been approved and registered following inspections, and participants thanked inspection teams from the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and the Inter Boards Coordination Commission for their support. The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training was cited as fully committed to the vision that no child should be left behind, and all parties reaffirmed a collective pledge to achieve zero out-of-school children in Islamabad.
