Outsourced Schools in Punjab Face Severe Neglect
Thousands of government schools in Pakistan's Punjab province that were transferred to private operators under outsourcing and public-private partnership schemes are suffering from worsening infrastructure, administrative failures, and allegations of exploitation, according to a report by The Express Tribune. Nearly 13,000 educational institutions across Punjab, including those in Rawalpindi, have been outsourced over the past two years.
Education sector representatives claim that many of these schools now lack basic facilities such as electricity, drinking water, furniture, and adequate maintenance. Several institutions have reportedly been abandoned and remain locked, leaving students without access to education.
Cost-Cutting Measures Spark Outrage
Concerns have been raised over cost-cutting measures allegedly adopted by private management. In one widely circulated incident, ceiling fans were reportedly switched off during classroom sessions to reduce electricity expenses. A video of the episode went viral on social media, leading to the registration of an FIR against the school's administration.
Leaders of teachers' organisations, including the Schools Education Pensioners Association and the Punjab Teachers Union, alleged that outsourcing has resulted in poor working conditions for educators. They claimed that many female teachers with matriculation or intermediate qualifications are being employed on monthly salaries ranging between PKR 7,000 and PKR 10,000, while students are charged tuition fees. Union representatives further alleged that teachers are often forced to sign salary receipts showing PKR 17,000 despite receiving significantly lower wages.
Undermining Free Education and Constitutional Responsibility
Education representatives argued that the continued transfer of public schools to private operators is undermining free education and disproportionately affecting children from low-income families. They urged the Punjab government to halt further privatisation, maintaining that ensuring free and quality education remains the state's constitutional responsibility, as cited by The Express Tribune.
Leadership Crisis in Government Schools
Meanwhile, the province's administrative crisis extends beyond outsourcing. Punjab's government high and higher secondary schools continue to operate without adequate leadership. Of the 9,217 institutions under the provincial education department, only 2,973 have permanent headmasters or principals, while 6,244 schools are functioning under temporary arrangements, as reported by The Express Tribune.
