Islamabad, Nov 16: Punjab Considers Outsourcing Middle and High Schools to Private Sector for Improved Efficiency
The Punjab School Education Department has finalized plans to privatize 500 public middle and high schools by the end of November, following the earlier privatization of 4,500 primary schools.
This decision has sparked strong opposition from educators, who have organized a major sit-in protest in Lahore.
This month, the department will announce the privatization of middle and high schools. Additionally, 4,500 primary schools have already been transferred to private ownership, and applications for the sale of another 7,500 primary schools are being accepted until November 25.
By the end of November, 500 middle and high schools will also be included in the privatization plan.
According to The Express Tribune, the government intends to privatize a total of 20,000 to 25,000 schools, including primary, middle, and high, by April 1, 2025.
This plan is expected to result in around 130,000 teachers being moved to a surplus pool, and the education budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 is predicted to be reduced by 40–50%.
Middle and High Schools
Leaders of the Grand Teachers Alliance (GDA), such as Rana Liaquat, Basharat Iqbal Raja, and Shafiq Bhalwalia, have accused the PML-N-led Punjab government of neglecting education and healthcare. They also pointed out the ongoing privatization of basic health centers.
The GDA leaders argue that school privatization will make education too expensive for the poor and children of lower-level government employees, worsening inequality.
Additionally, the GDA raised concerns about the rising cost of textbooks, which have already increased by 50%, with another 25% increase expected next year.
They predict that the number of out-of-school children in Punjab will exceed 30 million by the end of 2024. In response, the GDA has vowed to continue their large-scale protest in Lahore until their demands are met.
