ISLAMABAD, AUGUST 17: The controversial Punjabi government’s plan to privatize public schools is about to conclude its second phase. Another 4,453 schools will switch to the private sector and non-governmental organizations by next week. This action comes after the initial phase, in which 5,863 schools were turned over to commercial organizations and NGOs to run starting on August 15.
These initiatives are a part of a larger plan to eventually privatize 13,219 Punjabi schools. In the third phase, which is slated to begin in early September, 2,903 more schools will be privatized. After these stages are finished, Punjab will have many fewer government-controlled schools—just 35,000 will remain under direct government supervision.
By 2025, the government intends to privatize an additional 15,000 schools.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has rejected calls from teachers’ unions to stop the privatization, taking a strong stand in support of these changes. She contends that privatization will advance academic achievement by strengthening the educational system and improving school environments.
