Sindh Private Schools Announce Province-Wide Strike Over Anti-Corruption Interventions
Private school associations in Sindh have announced a province-wide strike on January 9, following a call by the Grand Alliance of Private Schools Associations. This move, which will see all private schools and colleges in the province remain closed, is a unified protest against the Anti-Corruption Establishment’s (ACE) direct involvement in private educational institutions’ affairs.
Sindh Private School Strike: The Rationale
Association leaders—including Haider Ali, Shahzad Akhtar, Tariq Shah, Anwar Bhatti, Danish-uz-Zaman, and Nasir Zaidi—addressed a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, highlighting serious concerns. They voiced reservations regarding ACE’s verification operations for “freeship” lists within schools, arguing that millions of children are educated by private institutions at “very reasonable fees,” with many also receiving fee waivers based on social responsibility.
The associations assert that ACE’s actions contradict the Sindh Private Institutions Act of 2013. According to this law, the Directorate of Private Institutions is the sole authorized regulatory body for such matters. While a Sindh High Court decision on December 8, 2025, tasked ACE with verifying freeship lists submitted by regional directors, the direct inspection by ACE teams into schools is considered illegal and unnecessary interference.
Concerns Leading to the Private School Strike
Speakers at the press conference expressed alarm over the presence of armed personnel in schools, which causes fear, mental stress, and anxiety, particularly among female teachers and young children. SindhNews.com reports that parents are also facing severe problems due to intrusive questioning and demands for details, despite complete data already being provided to relevant institutions. Such actions are reportedly damaging the reputation of established educational bodies serving the public for decades.
The Grand Alliance leaders strongly urged Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah to intervene immediately. They demanded that ACE adopt a dignified approach, completing verification through the Directorate of Private Institutions and ceasing direct school visits.
In response to the escalating situation, associations plan to file a new application in court to halt the ongoing ACE verification process. Joint protests involving parents and school administrations are scheduled across all Sindh districts from January 6 to 8. Private educational institutions will also observe a “black day” on January 8, culminating in the complete private school strike across Sindh on January 9.
This province-wide strike highlights the significant friction between regulatory bodies and private educational institutions. The outcome of these protests and the government’s response will undoubtedly shape the future of regulatory oversight in Sindh’s private education sector, impacting millions of students and educators.