PIDE COVID-19 Blog (no. 17) : Income loss due to covid-19 lockdown and the challenge of paying school fee

Abstract

"Over time, due to the low quality education being provided by the public sector schools, enrollment in private schools has significantly increased. According to the Pakistan Social Living Measurement (PSLM) Survey, the share of enrollment in private schools has increased from 28% to 38% over the last decade. The quality of education being imparted at the government schools has compelled parents to shift their children from government to private schools and these are not only children belonging to upper and middle class, but also many people from poor class send their children to these private schools. There are three types of private schools operating in the country. First, are the low level private schools that usually operate in houses, plazas or small buildings and charge a tuition fee ranging between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 3000 and entertain children from lower middle class. Some parents with little resources at hand also prefer to send their children to these low category private schools by sacrificing their many other needs. Second category is of the middle level schools where fee ranges from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 7000, and these usually entertain the country’s middle class. Third category is that of the top private schools having a fee ranging from Rs. 15000 to Rs. 25000 and these schools generally cater to children from families of upper middle and upper class."