Teachers in hot water over results

Evening coaching to be launched for weak students

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday expressed displeasure over the poor performance of Class IX students in examinations and ordered immediate action against teachers having results below 20 per cent.

A decision was taken in a meeting to link teachers' performance with students' examination results and ensure monthly and annual examinations in schools. The chief minister directed the education authorities to present a comprehensive timeline and reforms plan next week.

She ordered that schools securing the best results be rewarded, with prizes for top-performing schools in each district.

It was decided to introduce evening coaching for academically weak students in government schools and discourage the practice of removing them from schools.

The chief minister ordered that vacant posts of head teacher be filled within 45 days and subject specialists be appointed in government schools. She also directed the education minister to ensure monitoring and inspection at all levels.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the Government Girls High School Bhon in Jhang had secured the top position in terms of results. followed by the girls' high schools in Muzaffargarh and Layyah.

She sought district-wise monthly performance ratings of schools and approved the introduction of a Unified Monitoring App for their monitoring.

It was decided that a pilot project of Library on Wheels would be launched in Lahore.

The three-wheeler library, equipped with solar-powered charging, will carry more than 20,000 digital books and offer video-learning lectures.

The CM also sought a performance report of outsourced schools.

"Point-scoring alone will not improve government schools; there has to be actual improvement," she said, adding that teachers' efforts should be reflected in students' results.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the electric bus service in Multan.

She boarded a bus from the e-bus stop established at Agro Mall on Shujaabad Road and travelled to the venue of the ceremony at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture. Thousands of citizens gathered to greet her.