Closure of unsafe school buildings ordered in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the immediate closure of schools operating in unsafe and deteriorating buildings across the province.

The decision comes as part of a broader initiative to ensure student safety and improve infrastructure in the education sector.

Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to inspect all school buildings in Punjab and take swift action to seal those found to be structurally compromised.

Additionally, she emphasised the importance of checking cleanliness standards in schools, aiming to raise the overall quality of public education facilities.

During a meeting with lawmakers at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Muzaffargarh, the chief minister addressed public concerns, particularly about encroachments and poor sanitation in the city’s central areas.

She urged immediate action to remove encroachments and improve the cleanliness of public spaces.

Earlier in June, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the revival of 603 non-functional schools across the province as part of the Public Schools Reorganisation Programme.

She emphasised the importance of improving the state of education in Punjab and ordered a comprehensive mapping of schools to assess their needs and facilities.

The chief minister also approved the launch of a Green School Programme, under which each student will plant at least one sapling, with digital mapping to monitor the progress.

In a bid to enhance the quality of education, Maryam Nawaz called for the regularisation of 14,000 assistant education officers (AEOs) and secondary school educators (SSEs) in Punjab.

She also reviewed proposals to introduce spoken English and character-building classes in government schools.

Additionally, the chief minister highlighted the need for weekly and monthly competitions in various fields to encourage student engagement and development.

The chief minister also announced that 1,000 playgrounds would be constructed and rehabilitated within six months as part of efforts to provide better recreational facilities in government schools.

Alongside these initiatives, she ordered the launch of a pilot project for the Punjab School Nutrition Programme in Rajanpur, Layyah, and Bhakkar, starting in August, to improve students' health and learning outcomes.