Third phase of school privatisation kicks off

Over 5,000 public schools listed for sale across province

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Education Department has granted final approval for the sale of a further 5,500 government schools across the province, including 69 in Rawalpindi Division, inviting applications from prospective buyers.

This marks the third phase of the privatisation drive, following the completion of two earlier phases in which 15,000 public schools were sold.

Online applications for the third phase have been sought until March 31. Eligible applicants include private school owners, educated young graduates, NGOs, citizens' groups, educationists, and retired headmasters, principals and teachers. The schools are expected to be handed over at the start of the new academic year.

Three years ago, Punjab had a total of 47,000 government schools. After the sale of 15,000 institutions in the first two phases, and with the proposed disposal of a further 5,500 schools, the number of state-run schools in the province will fall to 26,500.

A fourth phase envisages the privatisation of an additional 10,000 higher secondary, high, middle and primary schools. Under current plans, the entire primary education system is to be transferred to the private sector by the 2027 academic session.

In the third phase, the schools listed for sale in Rawalpindi Division include 46 in Attock district, 31 in Jhelum, nine in Rawalpindi district and 13 in Chakwal. In Lahore district, 36 primary schools are also to be sold.

Teachers warn of 'systemic collapse'

Teachers' organisations have strongly opposed the move, warning that it will lead to a rise in the number of out-of-school and street children.

Basharat Iqbal Raja, President of the Educators Association, along with Akhiyan Gul, stated that no new teacher recruitment has taken place over the past decade and that job insecurity already hangs over educational institutions.

They argued that the sale of schools would devastate the public education system and urged the government to halt privatisation in the interest of low-income families.

Shafiq Bhalwalia, Central Secretary-General of the Education Pensioners Association, said that since the present government took office, there had been sustained measures targeting both the education sector and public employees.

He criticised the reported purchase of a Rs12 billion luxury aircraft while state schools were being sold, asserting that savings could not be achieved at the expense of poor children. Education and health, he said, are fundamental constitutional responsibilities of the government.

Bhalwalia further claimed that the number of street children currently stands at 25 million nationwide and warned that, if the privatisation process continues, the figure in Punjab alone could rise to 30 million.

He added that in schools already sold in earlier phases, student enrolment had reportedly declined by 60 per cent.