Educators protest privatisation drive

'Nawaz Sharif Schools' project launched under public-private partnership model

RAWALPINDI:

The education department has launched a new project titled "Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence" under a public-private partnership model, as part of the third phase of privatisation of public schools across Punjab.

Under the project, large schools located in cities, divisional and district headquarters, and tehsil centres - with extensive land, over 20 classrooms, and enrolment of 800 to 1,000 students - will be handed over to NGOs.

In the first phase, 155 schools in major urban centres have been selected. These institutions have land exceeding one acre and more than 20 classrooms. The project has been launched through the Punjab Education Foundation.

According to the outlined targets, these schools will provide quality education with highly qualified teachers, modern IT and science labs, smart classrooms, digital boards, free science, arts and technical education, digital and e-libraries, hostel facilities, and full sports infrastructure.

Applications have been invited from NGOs, private school owners, and education experts for participation in the partnership.

The schools are expected to become operational within the current academic session. Teacher training has already begun and will continue until May 26.

Under the funding model, the government will provide subsidies to the private sector: Rs3,500 per student from nursery to class II, Rs4,000 for classes III to V, Rs4,500 for classes VI to middle, Rs5,000 for arts students in classes IX and X, and Rs5,500 for science students.

Teachers' organisations have strongly rejected the project, alleging that the government is targeting high-value commercial land occupied by large schools for eventual sale. They termed the move an "educational disaster."

Teacher leaders Rana Liaquat, Ramzan Inqalabi, Shafiq Bhalwalia, and Basharat Iqbal Raja announced a protest movement against the initiative. They said many of these schools have been operating for 50 to 100 years and represent decades of effort by educators.

They claimed that 14,000 schools previously handed over have already been "destroyed" and warned that the government is now dismantling the entire public primary and middle school system. They alleged that within a year, all such schools could be privatised, effectively shutting access for the poor.

District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer Yasin Baloch, however, termed the project a "high-quality initiative," saying it would bring better faculty, improved teaching standards, sports facilities, free books, and libraries. He described it as a "historic and revolutionary step" by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.