Peshawar Education Costs Rise as Coaching Fees Hit Families

Peshawar education costs are rising as more families turn to private coaching for better exam preparation. Parents say school lessons often fail to meet their children’s academic needs.For Rozina Bibi, the monthly burden has become difficult. Her two daughters attend private academies, where she pays about Rs7,000 per subject.She spends nearly Rs28,000 on four subjects for each child. Despite financial pressure, she says the family sacrifices other needs to support their education.

Families Face Rising Academic ExpensesMany parents now depend on extra classes as competition for higher marks grows. Some well-known academies charge up to Rs10,000 for one subject.The growing demand has created a large parallel education market. However, middle- and lower-income families often struggle to manage these additional expenses.Mashal Khan, a Peshawar resident, also sends her daughter for extra preparation. Her daughter studies at a government school and prepares for ninth- and tenth-grade examinations.

Khan pays about Rs5,000 per subject. She says families feel pressure to pay because they fear their children may fall behind.Parents also question the quality of classroom education. They ask why students need costly coaching after spending several hours at school.The trend could widen educational inequality. Wealthier families can afford extra academic support, while others may struggle to match their children’s preparation.

Parents Demand Stronger Regulation

The expansion of academies has also raised concerns about regulation. Parents want authorities to ensure transparent fees and proper registration.The Private Schools Regulatory Authority says its jurisdiction covers private schools and education academies. PSRA litigation officer Qudrat Ullah Khattak said officials are working to regulate fees.According to Khattak, institutions can raise fees by 10 percent each year. Authorities can take action against centres that exceed the permitted increase.

However, only a limited number of academies have registered with PSRA. Officials therefore face challenges in monitoring the growing sector.PSRA records show around 12,000 private schools operate in Peshawar. Yet government departments lack a comprehensive record of academies.Parents want stronger oversight and clearer fee rules. They also expect schools to improve classroom teaching so families need less costly coaching.