Perturbing plight of Punjab public schools

• Government in action over low student count in public schools
• Teachers won’t have government handover schools to NGOs

While pondering over the idea of handing over all government schools to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Punjab government has announced strict action against the head teachers over a decrease in the number of students in government schools of the province.

Punjab Education Department has sought the list of students of primary, middle, higher and higher secondary schools and has warned that under PEDA Act, annual increments of school heads and class teachers would be stopped besides strict governmental action against them.

Despite high fees in private educational institutions, people prefer private schools due to low standard of education and intention in government schools. During recent months a remarkable decreased in student’s strengthen at government schools has been witnessed as a large number of male and female students left the government schools and took admission in private educational institutions.

TEACHERS PROTEST:

In the meanwhile, Punjab Teacher Union has protested over the Punjab government’s decision to handover all the government schools in the province to NGOs.

The Punjab government has decided to hand over the government schools to NGOs in different phases. Most of the primary schools would be handed over to Punjab Schools Foundation, whereas middle schools would be given to NGOs.

The Punjab Teachers Union has rejected the decision and has announced a sit-in in front of Punjab Assembly on August 28.

Punjab Teachers Union Secretary General Kashif Shahzad and Asad Chaudhry confirming provincial government’s decision said that deserving students will face difficulties in attaining education.