The Punjab School Education Department has finalised plans to privatise 500 public middle and high schools by the end of November, following the earlier transfer of 4,500 primary schools to private management.
According to media reports, the controversial decision has ignited widespread backlash, with educators planning a major sit-in protest in Lahore.
Privatisation plans
The department announced that advertisements for the privatisation of middle and high schools would be released this month.
Furthermore, applications are being accepted until November 25 for the privatisation of 7,500 more primary schools. By November’s close, the privatisation process for 500 middle and high schools will also be underway.
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According to a report by The Express Tribune, the Punjab government aims to privatise between 20,000 and 25,000 primary, middle, and high schools by April 1, 2025. As part of the restructuring, approximately 130,000 teachers are expected to be moved into a surplus pool, and the education budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year is reportedly set to be reduced by 40–50 per cent.
Teachers sound alarm
Leaders of the Grand Teachers Alliance (GDA), including Rana Liaquat, Basharat Iqbal Raja, and Shafiq Bhalwalia, have sharply criticised the PML-N-led Punjab government for what they see as the deprioritisation of education and healthcare.
They argue that privatisation will drive up education costs, making it unaffordable for poor families and lower-grade government employees, and exacerbating existing inequalities.
The GDA leaders also expressed concern over the rising costs of textbooks, which have already increased by 50 per cent, with an additional 25 per cent hike expected next year. They warn that the number of out-of-school children in Punjab could exceed 30 million by December 31, 2024, as a result of these policies.
Protest plans in motion
In response, the GDA has announced plans for a large-scale protest in Lahore, pledging to continue their demonstrations until the government reverses its privatisation policies. The leaders highlighted the broader implications of the privatisation push, noting that basic health centers are also being handed over to private operators.
The planned privatizations and budget cuts have raised alarm among educators and civil society, who view the measures as detrimental to the future of public education in Punjab.
