LAHORE: The Punjab School Education Department has reportedly abolished over 44,000 posts of government schoolteachers and staff, citing the outsourcing of nearly 10,000 schools to private operators as the primary reason.
Sources within the department confirm that the affected posts pertain mostly to institutions now under private management, where staffing decisions have been delegated to private contractors.
The move effectively eliminates 15% of the sanctioned posts in the provincial education system, triggering backlash from teachers’ unions and aspiring educators.
Teacher associations have long demanded the recruitment of educators to fill a persistent shortage of over 100,000 teaching positions.
No large-scale recruitment drive has taken place since 2018, leading many qualified graduates — now over the age limit for employment — to lose hope.
“This is a devastating blow to thousands who were waiting for public sector jobs in education,” said Ammara Rasheed, an MPhil student. “The decision crushes the hopes of an entire generation.”
Critics argue the move not only worsens youth unemployment but also jeopardizes public education standards, especially in underserved areas.
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However, Education Ministry spokesperson Noorul Huda countered the criticism, clarifying that “posts have not been abolished per se” and that new management of outsourced schools will be responsible for recruitment.
The government, he said, is merely reallocating resources to other departments or schools still under direct public control.
The outsourcing model is part of broader education sector reforms aimed at improving service delivery, but it remains controversial.
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While the government touts efficiency and performance-based models, teacher bodies warn of privatisation through the back door, erosion of job security, and loss of access to quality education for the poor.
As education reform and public employment priorities continue to diverge, the move underscores the tension between cost-efficiency goals and social equity needs.
