Private schools have been the subject of constant criticism. They are said to be nothing more than money-minting machines. The role of private schools has been questioned time and again, but it’s ironic how people who criticise them fail to admit how private schools are giving back to society and the economy.

I personally believe private schools are a blessing. They are giving much more to society and economy than any other business. Sure, education is a business but it is one that is much needed in a country like ours. If it weren’t for private schools, the literacy situation in our country would have been shocking. And thus, I think people who are investing their money in this business should be appreciated and not criticised.

My economics teacher once said that all individuals work for their own benefit; a doctor isn’t a doctor because he wants to just help the sick, a teacher isn’t teaching because she only wants to educate society, a banker is not in the banking sector so he could take care of people’s money ... At the end of the day, all aim to earn money because it’s a human need and it’s only natural for a businessman to aim to strive hard and increase his profits. This might sound harsh but it’s true.

So it’s a fact that people who invest their money in schools and the education sector expect a return but what the masses fail to realise is the fact that they could invest the same money elsewhere and still earn massive profits. A restaurant would require much less investment than a school and be equally profitable.

Private school owners have gone through a lot to build these schools; they’ve probably sold their property, spent their personal investment, sacrificed on the possible profits that the investment could bring them from other sectors and so on and thus they deserve profit! Moreover, we all know that schools make a moderate return, usually much lower than that made by other organisations yet serving a huge need across the different cities of the nation. Hence it’s only fair to appreciate those who think that while they earn profits, they should give back to the society, too, in one way or the other.

I am not denying the fact that some private schools charge a premium from their students but we need to realise that education is a service and in services a premium is totally acceptable. People need to realise that schools that charge a premium are giving services that other schools aren’t. I went to a school that was accused of charging more, catering to the elite, creating a class divide and so on but I know for a fact that the fee they charged me was totally worth the experience. We had teachers from Harvard and Yale teaching us and broadening our horizons, we had absolutely unique extracurricular activities that would enhance our high school experience, our debating teams would go to competitions around the globe, compete with the best in the world and bring home honourable mentions, our college counselor would help us during our application process to make sure that the students from our school secured places in the top universities and colleges in the world. And for this, I think they deserved the premium that they charged.

Also, it’s not just Pakistan where private schools charge more than others. In the US, Phillips Exeter costs around $50,000 as much as an Ivy League college yet people go there to study because they think it’s worth it. So the crux of the matter is that no one’s forcing you to study at a private school and if you’re doing so you know its worth the fee, too, so why pointlessly accuse people who’re working hard for the betterment of society.

And it’s not just private schools that charge a premium; every business does so. A business-class ticket costs more than an economy seat, a designer lawn suit is much expensive than a simple three-piece suit, a cup of coffee at an upscale café will cost a lot more than a simple cup made at home, an iPhone will probably be double the price of a Nokia with the same features and so on. My point of noting these things is that if an iPhone user isn’t complaining about the premium he paid for the brand, why do people voice useless accusations against private schools? By doing so, they discourage the many that are probably thinking of investing their money in this sector.

Another major accusation is that private schools are only for the elite. This might be true to quite an extent but I know all major private schools give away extravagant scholarships to anyone who gets straight As. The best thing is you don’t have to put up any requests or use contacts or illegal ways to obtain scholarships at these private schools. The procedure is simple and transparent; if your result sheet shows the specific result, you receive the scholarship automatically. Recently, many private schools have started giving away scholarships to mediocre students who hail from families which can’t afford to pay regular fees. Nevertheless, I am not completely denying the fact that they are for the elite because it’s the fee that the elite pay that helps these schools offer such financial aid and scholarships.

As far as the allegation of creating a class divide is concerned, I believe every commodity in the market does that. It’s the way an economic system operates; some have more money than others and it’s natural so it’s unfair to hold private schools accountable for something that will exist regardless of other factors.

Nowadays, hundreds of students opt for foreign education and spend up to 10 to 12 times more the cost of a degree here yet none of them are heard complaining about the massive fee they pay the universities and colleges abroad. Then why is it that people here create such a big deal? Also, it’s ironic how the same people can spend 5,000 on a dinner and even enjoy it but when it comes to paying the fees of a school that they picked in the first place, they criticise it pointlessly.

All in all, private schools should not be criticised aimlessly because they don’t force you to pick them. They are just an option that you pick yourself and we’re all wise enough to spend our money where it’s worth spending.