Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, the caretaker Sindh Chief Minister, has directed private schools across the province to adopt the “10% freeship” policy to provide quality education to these students at no cost.
The chief minister’s proactive stance emerged when it came to light that many schools have been bypassing the policy without repercussions. As per an official communication from the CM secretariat, he’s taken this non-compliance to heart, urging the necessary departments to ensure the policy is in place in all private schools within seven days.
Legal Grounds and Future Directives
The directive finds its roots in Chapter IV Section 10 of The Sindh Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2013. This act mandates that every private educational institution offer free education to 10% of its enrolled students. Despite its inception in 2013, many institutions have overlooked this requirement.
The correspondence was explicit: schools disregarding this mandate will face legal consequences. The letter states, “Any non-compliance or inadequate compliance… would attract stern legal action against the responsible school administration.”
It further elaborates that schools must ensure that at least 10% of their new admissions are reserved for disadvantaged students from the first grade onward.
Finally, the chief minister expects swift action, tasking education department officials to enforce the policy within the week and demanding a report detailing their progress.
 Maqbool Baqar, the caretaker Sindh Chief Minister, has called for the immediate adoption of the "10% freeship" policy in private schools, addressing longstanding non-compliance.){kind=link}