The Punjab Education Initiative Management Authority (PEIMA) has revoked the licenses of more than 1,600 partner schools, citing newly introduced conditions, according to a report by 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.
Sources revealed that a significant number of these licenses were issued to NGOs and individual partners.
PEIMA has now invited fresh applications for re-contracting these schools, with a deadline set for May 10. An application fee of Rs 10,000 has also been imposed.
Speaking on the matter, Sadaqat Hussain Khan Lodhi, Provincial Convener of PEIMA School Licensees, expressed strong reservations, stating that any allocation of schools on political grounds rather than merit will be unacceptable.
He pointed out that licensees invested millions of rupees to make the schools operational under a three-year contract. Tightening conditions at the end of the contract period and cancelling licenses without due consideration is unjust to partner schools, he added.
Lodhi urged PEIMA to review and reverse the decision, and demanded that the licenses be restored to give partner schools a fair opportunity.
He also issued a warning: if the demands are not met, license holders will be left with no option but to protest.
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