The education department of Punjab has unexpectedly started a crackdown on the unregistered private academies in various districts and sealed dozens of academies which were running without any official approval.
The inspections have been conducted in Lahore, Pakpattan and other areas where more than 70 illegal academies have been identified as violating the minimum legal and safety standards. A large number of them were poorly registered, had no qualified staff or required facilities such as CCTV and fire exits.
Officials attested that some centers were closed on the spot, and others received final orders to shape up or be closed down. The authorities stressed that the move was aimed at safeguarding the students and regulating the practices of the private education sector.
This is part of the crackdown as people have become vocal about the unregulated activities of the private institutions, most of which are issuing high fees with impunity. These kinds of issues were previously highlighted in other cities such as Lahore through smaller drives, which is why this broader provincial initiative was necessary.
All other unregistered academies have been encouraged by the government tofinalize their paperwork and attain the expected safety standards. More sweeps across the district will take place in the following weeks.
