Over 40,000 Teachers in Punjab Boycott Assessment Test Over Fears of Failure

In Punjab, teachers have boycotted the Training Need Assessment (TNA) test, which the School Education Department (SED) scheduled for Saturday to identify training requirements. The government had introduced an app, developed by PMIU-PESRP, to facilitate online MCQ-based assessments; however, only 80 out of 43,000 teachers participated in the test.

Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary Rana Liaqat reported widespread dissent, attributing the low attendance to issues with the test’s English format, lack of preparation time, and limited access to necessary technology.

Liaqat noted that many teachers lacked Android smartphones and internet access, with notice given only three days prior.

He further alleged that the government’s ultimate aim was to privatize schools, saying that 13,000 schools were already outsourced and that teachers could lose their positions if they failed to pass the assessment.

In response, Punjab’s School Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat refuted claims of privatization, stating the government was merely outsourcing management in selected schools to enhance educational standards, not privatizing them.

He defended the need for assessments, arguing that accountability is essential given the significant taxpayer investment in education. Hayat encouraged public trust, stating that these efforts aim to ensure quality education.

He also addressed union-led accusations, assuring that school postings and transfers were handled transparently, with no favoritism involved.