Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bans Unregistered Private Schools From Exams

On February 23, 2026, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elementary and secondary education department announced a directive prohibiting students from unregistered private high and higher secondary schools from taking matriculation and intermediate board examinations. This decision affects 387 identified institutions that have not registered with the KP Private Schools Regulatory Authority (KP-PSRA). The move aims to regulate the private education sector, which has been criticized for operating outside the established legal framework, thereby compromising educational standards. A spokesperson from the KP education department stated, "This is a necessary step to ensure that all educational institutions adhere to regulatory standards and provide quality education to students." (TechJuice, 2026; Daily Times, 2026).