The Punjab Education Department has abruptly closed the FirstStep Khawaja Sara Palace Non-Formal High School, the only transgender-focused school in Faisalabad, leaving more than fifty students without education and teachers unpaid.
According to a report aired by 24NewsHD, the school, located in Mohammadi Colony, Shah Faisalabad, was abruptly shut down, prompting immediate protests outside the CEO Education Faisalabad office.
Transgender teachers and students demanded the restoration of the school and the release of unpaid salaries.
Established in 2023, the school provided a safe, inclusive environment for transgender students and offered an alternative to exploitative work like begging.
Beyond academics, it played a key role in community life, organizing events such as Mehfil-e-Milad, Langar distributions, educational trips, free food camps, and observing the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The school also collaborated with civil society organizations, including Sathi Foundation, to extend its impact and outreach within the community.
Protesters have appealed directly to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to intervene, restore the school, and ensure teachers receive their due salaries, highlighting the urgent need to protect education and dignity for Faisalabad’s transgender community.
