The Punjab School Education Department has finalised agreements with Muslim Hands, a non-profit organisation (NGO), regarding the takeover of government schools across the province including Rawalpindi.
As a result, Muslim Hands has initiated the recruitment process for key positions, including principals and cluster coordinators, to manage the acquired schools. Government schools across all nine divisions of Punjab are being handed over to Muslim Hands, which has begun recruiting staff for these institutions in every division.
Under the new management, Muslim Hands has set the salaries for principals and cluster coordinators at a lump sum of Rs40,000 to Rs50,000. In contrast, the salaries of school teachers are expected to be significantly lower. This has sparked outrage among teachers' organisations, which have announced plans to stage a protest against the privatisation of schools on Thursday, July 25, outside the Muslim League-N Secretariat.
Muslim Hands has advertised for the posts of school principals in various divisions and districts of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Jhelum, Khanewal, Leh, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Sargodha, and Sheikhupura. Established in 1993, Muslim Hands has been active in providing support in education, health, and poverty alleviation across 60 districts in Pakistan. The NGO now plans to acquire approximately 13,000 government schools in Punjab, marking a significant shift towards privatisation in the education sector.
The Punjab Teachers Union has strongly opposed the privatisation of public schools, calling it unacceptable under any circumstance. Central President Anwar Haq, Secretary General Rana Liaquat, and Central Leader Shahid Mubarak have announced their intention to protest against the move.
The teachers' union has also presented a charter of demands addressing issues such as levy encashment, pay protection, and the continuous increase in petroleum prices, which they argue contribute to the burden of inflation.
Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia, Central Secretary General of the Punjab SES Teachers Association, has condemned the decision to privatize the schools. He criticised the planned salaries, stating that principals would receive a meagre Rs40,000 while teachers would get Rs25,000 to Rs30,000.
He described this move as "cruel" and demanded the government withdraw its decision.
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