The recent admission drive for government schools, covering Class I to Class IX, has seen disappointing results since its launch on August 15. In the first three days, only one new student enrolled in Rawalpindi, highlighting a growing crisis in public education.
In response to concerns about enrollment numbers, authorities have suspended 17 headmasters and headmistresses for allegedly falsifying admission records. These officials, from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Bahawal divisions, are facing legal action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (PEEDA) Act.
They have been directed to report to the Chief Executive Officers of their respective District Education Authorities for further investigation. The education department had already recorded alarmingly low admissions during the first phase of the enrollment drive, which ran from February to May 31.
The current phase has not improved the situation, with many parents choosing private schools for their children instead.
Abrar Ahmed Khan, Divisional President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association, warned that the number of out-of-school children in Punjab, currently at 28 million, could increase to 30 million by December 2025 if no immediate measures are taken.
Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia, Central Secretary General of the Punjab SES Teachers Association, criticized the government’s privatization policies, attributing the decline in government school performance to these strategies. He cautioned that further enrollment drops and deterioration in the public education system are likely unless changes are made.
Stay Connected with ProPakistani
Get the latest education news, admissions updates, and scholarship alerts wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
Phly koi facilities to dn students ko. Itnii late chutti hti h bchon ko. Private m chutti b jldi hti h. R b bht c khrab Ian hn