Punjab orders free education for disabled students

LAHORE: The Punjab government has directed all public sector colleges across the province to provide free education to students with disabilities from the academic year 2026-27.

The Directorate of Public Instructions (Colleges), Punjab, issued the directive on August 18, 2026, instructing college principals to waive fees and other academic charges for eligible students with disabilities.

Under the notification, disabled students enrolled in government colleges will be exempted from tuition, admission and examination fees. Other charges related to their education will also be waived in accordance with the government’s policy.

The directive further instructed colleges to ensure that students with disabilities face no discrimination during the admission process. Public colleges have also been asked to improve accessibility and provide suitable facilities to enable disabled students to continue their education without physical or financial barriers.

The government has also emphasised the provision of scholarships, assistive devices and other educational support where applicable under existing policies.

The Directorate based its decision on the Punjab Right to Education for Children with Disabilities Act, 2020, and the Punjab Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The notification states that the government is responsible for ensuring free education for children with disabilities, including access to higher education. It also makes clear that students or their parents should not be required to bear fees, charges or other expenses for completing their education where the law provides an exemption.

The Directorate warned that collecting fees from disabled students in public colleges would amount to a violation of the relevant legislation.

The latest directive is aimed at strengthening inclusive education across Punjab and ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent students with disabilities from accessing higher education.

College administrations have been instructed to implement the orders immediately and ensure that eligible students receive the benefits without unnecessary procedural hurdles.