Over 25,0000 teachers to lose jobs

The Punjab Education Ministry has silently started the rationalisation process of the teachers following which at least 25,000 teachers will lose their jobs, The Express Tribune learnt on Monday. In the first phase, the rationalisation of the senior teachers is underway and the final list would be uploaded on the official website next week. The entire process of downsizing would be completed by the end of August, officials told The Express Tribune. The process is being carried out under the ratio of one teacher per 60 students. Earlier, the ratio was 1:40 across the province. Punjab Senior School Teachers Association (SSTA) President Shafique Bhalwalia and Educators Association President Basharat Iqbal said that the teachers’ organisations had already rejected the rationalisation policy. They demanded the government to revise the policy as it would end 25,000 vacancies of teachers across the province. The officials said that they would challenge the decision in the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2020.