Latest news with #PunjabSchoolEducationDepartment
Express Tribune
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
3,000 dilapidated school buildings imperil students
As monsoon intensifies across Punjab, over 3,000 government school buildings have been declared structurally dangerous, posing a threat to the students and teachers. Despite repeated warnings and assessments conducted over several years, the Punjab School Education Department has failed to carry out timely repairs or reconstruction of the deteriorating buildings. According to official documents, schools are operating in unsafe buildings across several districts, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Narowal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi. In Lahore, hundreds of government school buildings have been reported as either partially or completely unfit for use. Several buildings in the city's old neighborhoods have crumbling walls, waterlogged classrooms and exposed electric wiring, while some roofs have collapsed under moderate rainfall. Many of these schools have roofs leaking during mild rain, while some structures are at risk of collapse during heavy downpours or strong winds. Sources revealed that these buildings had been marked as "unfit for use" years ago, with instructions issued for immediate repairs or rebuilding. However, the department has taken limited actions for the restoration work. With the new academic session expected to begin in August after the summer break, there is fear that students might be forced back into unsafe environments. Officials of the school education department said the government had allocated special funds in the new fiscal year to rehabilitate flood-affected and structurally compromised buildings. An amount of Rs5 billion has reportedly been earmarked for repair and reconstruction projects in 2025. While this allocation brings some hope, education experts and civil society organisations argue that implementation of the projects must be swift and transparent. They demand a clear timeline and accountability mechanism to ensure that repairs are completed before students return.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
CM to introduce school van/bus service, ‘On-Wheel Montessori School'
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a special meeting regarding School Education Department in which outsourced schools, School Meal Programme and other projects were reviewed. In the meeting, it was decided to give 'School of the Month' award for the first time on the basis of discipline, classroom, lab and quality of education and 'Teacher of the Month' award for best performance. The Chief Minister directed to take steps with regard to launching 'On-Wheel Montessori School' project. The meeting also decided to introduce school van/bus service in government schools for the first time across Punjab. The CM sought a comprehensive plan for the first regular school bus service. Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat gave a detailed briefing to the participants regarding the School Education Department. It was informed in the briefing that excellent results are being achieved in outsourcing schools in Punjab. Student enrolment has increased by 99 percent and the number of teachers by 114 percent. Avenues of decent employment opportunities for more than 60,000 have opened for the educated youth. It was also informed in the meeting that the Punjab School Education Department has set a record for the world's largest successful public-private partnership. Outsourcing government schools has increased enrolment by 1.3 million in just 16 months. Another 10,500 schools will be outsourced in a year. It was further informed in the briefing that 40,000 applications were received for outsourcing 5,700 government schools in the first phase. The target of improving 80 percent infrastructure in outsourced schools has been achieved. After outsourcing government schools, the number of students increased by 453,000 in a few months. The number of teachers in outsourced schools increased from 8,000 to 17,196. 413 new classrooms, renovation of 5,018 classrooms, and roof repairs of 2,887 rooms were completed in outsourced schools. 254538 square meters of boundary walls were also built in outsourced government schools. More than 50 outsourced schools were shifted to solar energy instead of conventional electricity. About 1643 water tanks, 5830 water coolers and 9303 new blackboards were installed in outsourced schools. It was further informed in the briefing that children will get midday meal under self-help basis in various outsourced schools including Faisalabad. About 70977 furniture sets have been provided for students in outsourced schools. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif started successful pilot project of Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), Education Tech Schools. She directed to launch Education Tech Schools in villages as well. The pilot project for English conversation is on going successfully. Under the programme, 3 lakh children will gain proficiency in English conversation under IELTS Standard-4 in 6 months. 10,000 classrooms have been prepared for Early Childhood Education in every district of Punjab. The Chief Minister directed to increase the number of children in the Nawaz Sharif Center of Excellence from 240 to 1,500. The meeting agreed to start School Meal Program in the districts of Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali and Bahawalnagar. On this occasion, the proposal to provide energy bars, biscuits and other items to children besides milk was reviewed. The meeting set a target of constructing classrooms in government schools across Punjab by the end of this year. More than 400 toilet blocks will be completed in girls' schools. Google training for children and teachers is successfully underway. The Chief Minister directed to build 6,000 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other labs across Punjab. She expressed satisfaction over rationalization in understaffed and overstaffed schools. She underscored that imparting quality teacher training is essential for ensuring the quality of education. The entrances to schools should be improved on a uniform pattern across Punjab. She vowed that we intend to improve the quality of government schools much better than good private schools in Punjab. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Privatised schools report theft of equipment
In the last six months, more than 10,000 public schools were privatised by the Punjab School Education Department, and reports now reveal widespread theft from many of these schools. Stolen items include fans, furniture, tables, chairs, and solar panels. Grade-IV employees are being blamed, while inquiries against unknown individuals have also been initiated. According to departmental sources, schools in remote rural areas have seen extensive loss of school assets. A high-level investigation is underway to compile inventory data and identify missing items. Following this, school watchmen, security guards, and other junior staff will be questioned. Officials claim some personnel have taken stolen items for personal use and are being closely monitored. The department has warned of strict disciplinary action under the PEEDA Act and urged staff to voluntarily return any stolen property. The Punjab School Education Department had privatised an additional 4,789 public schools in the second phase of the privatisation drive in March. The list of these schools were made public. With this phase, the total number of public schools in Punjab has dropped further to 38,154. The third phase, 5,100 more schools were to be sold, further reducing the total count of public schools to 33,054. Punjab to dismiss contract teachers The Punjab School Education Department has decided to terminate the services of 10,202 temporary schoolteachers who were hired for four months on daily wages to address the shortage of staff in government schools. Their temporary employment period ends on May 31, and they will be effectively relieved of their duties on May 28 with the commencement of the summer vacation. The teachers set to be dismissed include 2,405 primary schoolteachers, 6,012
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Heatwave forces early summer vacations
An ongoing heatwave in Punjab has forced the provincial government to reduce school hours and announce early summer holidays from May 28. The school timings till the beginning of the holidays will be from 7:30am to 11:30am. According to a notification, the Punjab School Education Department announced on Tuesday that the educational institutions would be closed for summer holidays from May 28 instead of June 1 as announced earlier. The schools across the province will reopen after the holidays on August 15. The Punjab Higher Education Department also announced that the summer vacations in colleges and universities would begin on May 28. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Meteorological Department said the prevailing heatwave was likely to continue during the ongoing week. The maximum temperature in Lahore on Tuesday was recorded as 42 degree Celsius. The spokesman said a high pressure is likely to persist in upper atmosphere during the current week. Under the influence of this meteorological condition, day temperatures were likely to remain four to 6°C above normal in South Punjab till May 24. The day temperatures in central and upper Punjab are likely to remain up to 7°C above normal during the period. Dust storms and gusty winds are expected at isolated places in the plain areas due to excessive heat during the period. Due to the heatwave, the residents, especially children, women and senior citizens have been advised to take precautionary measures, avoid direct exposure to sunlight during the day time and remain hydrated. Farmers were advised to manage their crop activities while keeping in view the weather conditions and take care of their livestock as well. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also issued an alert regarding temperature rise and heatwave. Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed issued instructions to the commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province to remain alert. He stated that the departments concerned, including the district administrations, should be on alert in view of the heatwave. The alert has been also been issued to the departments of school education, health, transport, local government and Rescue 1122, sharing concerns regarding the temperature rise and heatwave in major cities and plains of Punjab till May 24. There is a possibility of an unusual increase in temperature in the next few days. Due to the heatwave, there are also chances of strong winds and thunderstorms in some places in the plains. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said that an alert has been issued to the district administrations to ensure the supply of clean water in public places. The provision of first aid for heatstroke should be ensured in hospitals and mobile health units, he said. With additional input from APP
Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Government privatises 4,789 more schools
The Punjab School Education Department has privatised an additional 4,789 public schools in the second phase of its ongoing privatisation drive. The list of these schools has now been made public. With this phase, the total number of public schools in Punjab has dropped further to 38,154. The third phase of the privatisation plan is scheduled to take place after Eid, with applications already being invited. In this phase, 5,100 more schools will be sold, further reducing the total count of public schools to 33,054. Initially, Punjab had 48,790 government schools. The first phase saw 5,857 schools privatised, bringing the number down to 42,937. The third phase is expected to be completed by May 31, before the summer break. Alongside this, the education department has initiated a "rationalisation" process for teachers and non-teaching staff, seeking data from education officers to determine staffing adjustments. Sources indicate that schools with less than 100 students will be prioritised for privatisation in this phase. In the second phase, 45 per cent of the privatised schools were handed over to NGOs, while the rest were transferred to individuals, including entrepreneurs. The finalisation of the school list was delayed by a month due to extended scrutiny, as over 20,400 applications were received from across Punjab.
