Punjab approves outsourcing 6,460 public schools in fourth phase

Punjab’s School Education Department has approved the fourth phase of its public-school outsourcing programme, covering 6,460 institutions across the province. The new phase includes 5,860 primary and middle schools and, for the first time, 600 boys’ and girls’ high schools.

The decision represents a major expansion of the Public Schools Reorganisation Programme, under which the management of government schools is transferred to selected private operators while the institutions remain part of the public education system. Approximately 13,600 schools were reportedly outsourced during the first three phases.

The department has also reportedly decided to close schools enrolling no more than 100 students. Government schools have been instructed to complete new admissions by October 31, with further admissions scheduled to stop from November 1, although detailed implementation criteria and possible exemptions have not yet been publicly explained.

Teachers’ organisations and parents have opposed the expansion and called for its withdrawal. Their representatives argue that including high schools could restrict access to secondary education, particularly for girls living in rural communities where another suitable institution may not be available nearby.

Union representatives have also expressed concern that regular teachers could be declared surplus after management transfers and replaced by staff employed on temporary or fixed-salary contracts. They have announced plans to coordinate protests with organisations representing non-teaching employees.

The Punjab government maintains that the partnership model is intended to improve educational quality, infrastructure and accountability while reducing operational inefficiencies. The Punjab Education Foundation says enrolment in schools transferred during the first phase increased from 228,867 to 501,965, while the number of teachers rose from 7,862 to 19,285 and student attendance reached about 90 per cent.

Alongside the outsourcing decision, authorities have ordered a province-wide census of schools and students. District education officials have been given 48 hours to verify enrolment records, remove fake or duplicate entries and update information concerning teaching staff, vacancies, buildings, classrooms, boundary walls, academic sections and other facilities.

The programme’s effect will depend on whether access, affordability and teaching standards are protected after management changes. Clear information is still required about the schools selected, treatment of existing employees, transport or alternative arrangements for affected students and the basis for restricting admissions after October 31.