Nearly 20,000 teachers working in thousands of schools under the Punjab Education Initiatives Management Authority(PEIMA) are facing serious financial difficulties after three months of salary delays. The issue has raised concerns about the stability of the education system and the impact on hundreds of thousands of students across Punjab.
According to school administrations, payments to around 4,300 partner schools for January, February, and March are still pending. As a result, many schools are struggling to pay teachers and cover operational expenses, leaving thousands of educators without income for months.
Teachers say the ongoing delay has forced many to consider leaving their jobs in search of more stable employment. Education experts warn that if the issue continues, it could lead to a shortage of teachers and disrupt learning for nearly 600,000 students enrolled in PEIMA-supported schools.
Frustrated teachers have also warned that they may stage protests before Eid if the government fails to release the pending payments soon.
Responding to the concerns, PEIMA Chief Executive Officer Imtiaz Shahid Gondal said that payments up to January have already been released, while February payments are expected within the next five to seven days. He clarified that PEIMA provides financial subsidies to partner schools, which are responsible for distributing salaries to their teaching staff.
The issue highlights ongoing administrative and funding challenges in the province’s education sector, with teachers urging authorities to ensure timely salary payments to avoid disruptions in schooling.
