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Punjab is set to begin the third phase of its school privatization program next month, transferring another 4,500 primary, middle, and high schools to private operators a major shift that has sparked strong concern across the education community. The decision marks the continuation of a policy under which nearly 12,500 government schools have already been privatized, reshaping the province’s public education landscape.
In the new phase, all schools with 100 students or fewer will be handed over to private management. Education authorities have been directed to submit updated lists, while teachers working in these institutions will be moved to nearby campuses or shifted to the surplus pool. For the first time, high schools are also being included in the privatization drive, signaling a deeper push into upper-level education.
Teacher unions, however, have strongly condemned the move. Speaking to reporters, representatives warned that this decision could destabilize the system.
“This policy will damage public education and burden parents with higher fees,” said Rana Liaqat, Secretary General of the Punjab Teachers Union, urging the government to withdraw the plan.
Others echoed similar concerns, arguing that combining privatization with teacher reshuffling would weaken an already strained system.
The announcement comes at a critical time as the province continues its efforts to reform education, but the widening gap between government measures and teachers’ concerns highlights growing tension over the future of public schooling in Punjab.
