Punjab’s school outsourcing policy has come under fresh scrutiny after a provincial assembly committee warned it may be harming education quality and reducing student admissions. Lawmakers said field inspections show deteriorating conditions in several outsourced public schools, contradicting official claims of major enrollment gains.
The issue was reviewed in a meeting of the Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on School Education chaired by Noshir Langrial. Members said ground realities in outsourced schools do not match government reports and called the situation “unsatisfactory” after personal visits to institutions.
Lawmakers warned that instead of strengthening public education, the outsourcing model appears linked to declining enrollment and weaker academic standards in multiple districts.
Committee members highlighted falling admissions in government schools, attributing the trend to gaps in oversight, infrastructure issues, and inconsistent academic performance after outsourcing.
Officials, however, cited a February 19 press release claiming the programme delivered strong results, including an 800% overall rise in enrollments, with 114% growth in Phase One and 24% in Phase Two. The committee questioned the sharp disparity between official data and field observations.
The panel directed authorities to submit a detailed policy review and take urgent corrective measures. It also called for tighter monitoring, transparent performance benchmarks, and structural reforms to ensure outsourcing improves rather than undermines Punjab’s public education system.
With lawmakers flagging declining standards and admissions in outsourced schools, Punjab’s education outsourcing policy faces renewed scrutiny and pressure for reforms to restore confidence in public schooling.
