The Punjab government has finalized the privatization of 350 schools in Rawalpindi and 5,863 across the province, marking a significant shift in public education. This move will see these schools officially handed over to NGOs, the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF), and various purchasing groups within the week.
In the second phase, 7,137 additional government schools are set to be privatized, with the process of reviewing applications currently underway. These schools are scheduled to begin operating under private management starting August 15.
Teachers from the privatized schools have the option to transfer to other government institutions. The new private management will recruit their own teachers and principals, with salaries for administrators set at Rs50,000 and teachers receiving between Rs30,000 and Rs40,000.
The privatization has faced strong opposition from teachers’ organizations. Abdul Rauf Kayani, head of the Punjab Primary, Elementary, and Secondary Teachers Association, criticized the move as a constitutional breach, arguing it undermines the government’s responsibility to provide free education. He warned of significant protests and potential land acquisitions in commercial areas.
Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia of the Punjab SES Teachers Association expressed concerns that privatization would increase educational costs, making it more difficult for children from poorer families to attend school. Basharat Iqbal Raja, President of the Educators Association, predicted that privatization would exacerbate the issue of out-of-school children, with the current number of 27 million potentially rising to 30 million due to higher fees and reduced access to free books.
The education department has instructed district education officers to reclaim government property from the privatized schools, further intensifying the debate over the impact of this initiative on access to education for underprivileged children.