Ban imposed on teachers' leave until Feb 2025

The Education Department has enforced a strict ban on all teacher leave until February 2025, with maternity leave now requiring a Surgeon General's certificate. Any misuse of leave, particularly under false certification, will result in termination under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006.

Additionally, the department has prohibited all non-obligatory prayers and recitations during class periods and duty hours, except for obligatory prayers, with any violations subject to disciplinary action. The education secretary has also issued new directives for government schools, including a ban on physical punishment, mandatory Girl Guides and Boy Scouts activities, and stricter controls on student attendance and admissions.

The Education Secretary has issued a guideline for government schools regarding the upcoming annual examinations, which includes 13 directives based on complaints received from parents and students against school heads and teachers. Under these directives, the Secretary of Education has issued strict instructions to immediately start Girl Guides and Boy Scouts in all major high and higher secondary schools. It has been declared that physical punishment of students in government schools is now a criminal offense, and it has been made clear that any teacher found guilty of this will face strict action.

School heads are now required to submit daily reports on the lectures delivered by all teachers and provide a consolidated report every month. The department has taken strict notice of fraudulent admissions in classes 9th through 12th, where false enrolment numbers have been reported. School heads and class teachers will be held accountable if such practices are discovered. Additionally, a minimum attendance of 75% is now mandatory for students to be eligible for board exams.

The collection of admission fees from students for board exams has also come under scrutiny.