Lack of transparency alleged in school outsourcing
The government's Public School Reorganisation Program (PSRP), intended to rejuvenate struggling government schools by outsourcing them to private operators, has been mired in controversy due to alleged mismanagement and a lack of transparency in the selection process.
Under the PSRP, 347 primary schools across Bahawalnagar with low enrollment or limited teaching staff were identified for outsourcing. According to data from the District Education Authority (DEA), 205 of these schools have been assigned to Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) licensees, while the remaining 142 are yet to be handed over. As a result, numerous teachers have been displaced or left in limbo, and the educational activities in several schools have come to a halt, with no interim solutions provided.
Some local educators claim that PSRP has deviated from its intended goal of educational improvement, with allegations surfacing that officials disregarded merit and manipulated allotments to benefit some elements.
Sources cited the case of a PEF licensee from Haroonabad Tehsil, who was allocated a school under the PSRP despite reportedly being a government employeea status that should disqualify him under regulations.
A local resident, Javed Arshad, said the person named Jilani had misrepresented his qualifications and employment status on his application. Despite being a teacher in the Punjab government's literacy department, Jilani allegedly submitted a fake experience certificate on a fabricated letterhead for a non-existent school and provided an incorrect CNIC number, which officials reportedly overlooked.
When reached for comment, the literacy department confirmed Jilani's employment and attendance at his government position through official documentation.
According to the department, his dual role is prohibited, raising questions about the oversight of his eligibility in the PSRP.
Complicating matters further, Jilani's daughter, also a Literacy Department teacher, applied for schools under the PSRP as part of a three-member group, omitting her government employment on her application.
The DEO Literacy Bahawalnagar, through letter number 1023, verified her affiliation with the Literacy Department.
An applicant who requested anonymity told The Express Tribune, "I forgot to sign my form, and that's why I was disqualified." they said.