Schools across multiple districts of Punjab are expected to close for up to three days as the Grand Teachers Alliance, a union of teachers from across the province, has announced a series of protests against the government’s plans to outsource educational institutions.
The protests are set to begin on September 24, when teachers in the Rawalpindi division will shut down schools. The strike will spread to the rest of Punjab, with a large demonstration planned in Lahore on September 26.
Read More: Govt clarifies stance on lifting ban on new domestic gas connections
Following that, schools across the province will be closed on September 27 in solidarity with the protest. Grand Teachers Alliance Punjab President Raja Tahir Mehmood and other union leaders made the announcement, criticizing the government’s outsourcing plan as an attempt to privatize schools.
They urged the government to reverse its decision, stating that the outsourcing initiative reflects the state’s failure to provide adequate support to educators. Union leaders also highlighted that more than 130,000 posts are currently vacant in educational institutions across Punjab.
They argued that under Article 25A of the Constitution, it is the government’s duty to provide free education to citizens, and outsourcing schools undermines this responsibility.
