Karachi Schools to Remain Closed on Friday, January 9, 2026, as Sindh-Wide Strike Is Announced

• Private schools and colleges across Sindh will observe a complete strike on January 9, 2026. This announcement comes from the Grand Alliance of Private Schools Associations (GAPSAS). The shutdown serves as a protest against direct raids by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). Over six million students will stay home as institutions demand a dignified verification process.

Sindh Private Schools Strike January 9: Key Reasons

Parents in Karachi and other districts should prepare for school closures this Friday. The All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association reports that these raids cause immense mental stress. They argue that armed officials entering classrooms harasses female teachers and young children.

The Sindh has only one authoritative regulatory authority of the Directorate of Private Institutions, according to the law. According to school leaders, direct ACE inspections infringe the Sindh Private Educational Institutions Act 2013. Although schools are willing to certify free-ship quotas (free education), they demand it to be executed via the right civil procedures.

The Conflict Over Free-Ship Quotas

The tension follows a Sindh High Court order from December 8, 2025. The court asked authorities to verify if schools provide 10% free education to disadvantaged children. While schools claim they fulfill this social duty, the current “raid culture” has forced their hand. Associations believe these actions damage the reputation of long-standing welfare and educational organizations.

The strike is the final step in a week-long protest:

• January 6–8: Joint protest meetings with parents across all Sindh districts.
• January 8: A province-wide “Black Day” in all private institutions.
• January 9: A complete shutdown of all private schools and colleges in Sindh.

Associations have reached out to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Education Minister Sardar Shah to intervene. They plan to file a new court application to halt the current verification method. For now, government schools remain open, but the private sector strike will impact the majority of students in the province.