Post-matric enrolment plunges in public schools

A sharp decline has been witnessed in post-matric admissions to government higher secondary schools in Punjab, with enrolment dropping by around 90 per cent.

According to the Education Department, a large number of students this year preferred colleges and other educational institutions over government higher secondary schools after completing matric.

More than 600,000 students were enrolled in Class 10 in government schools across the province, but only 56,000 students took admission to Class 11 in government higher secondary schools this year, while more than 550,000 students either moved to private colleges or discontinued their education.

A large number of female students have also dropped out of education.

The trend reflects growing pressure on Punjab's public education system and raises serious questions about the future role of government higher secondary schools.

Parents and students said there was a record shortage of science laboratories in higher secondary schools across the province, while facilities were lacking even where laboratories existed. Government libraries were almost non-existent, they said.

They said higher secondary schools also lacked permanent, qualified teachers for science subjects, mathematics, physics, statistics, chemistry and biology.

Instead, daily-wage school interns had been appointed in place of permanent teachers, whose teaching system was not upgraded, they added.

Teachers' organisations said the decline in admissions to higher secondary schools was alarming and could lead to their rationalisation and staff cuts this year.

They said higher secondary schools where fewer than 100 students had enrolled were likely to be merged with other higher secondary schools.

Punjab Teachers Union president Sufi Ramzan Inqalabi demanded that the higher secondary school system be upgraded in accordance with modern requirements. He also called for the immediate recruitment of permanent, highly qualified teachers for science subjects instead of daily-wage teachers.