Punjab Outsourced Schools Face Growing Concerns Over Facilities and Staffing

Punjab Outsourced Schools are facing growing criticism as education representatives raise concerns over poor facilities, low teacher salaries, and administrative challenges. Nearly 13,000 public schools have shifted to private operators under outsourcing and public-private partnership models during the past two years. At the same time, more than 6,200 high and higher secondary schools across Punjab continue to operate without permanent heads.

Teachers Raise Concerns Over Outsourced Schools

Education representatives said many outsourced schools lack basic facilities, including electricity, clean water, furniture, and other essential resources. They also claimed that some schools remain locked and unused after the outsourcing process. In one reported incident, the management of a public-private partnership school allegedly switched off ceiling fans during classes to reduce electricity costs. A video of the incident spread widely on social media. As a result, authorities registered an FIR against the school’s administration.
Leaders of the Schools Education Pensioners Association and the Punjab Teachers Union said around 13,000 primary, elementary, and high schools have been outsourced in the past two years. They argued that many institutions now face administrative difficulties and declining infrastructure. The union representatives also alleged that private operators hire women teachers with matriculation or FA qualifications on monthly salaries ranging from Rs7,000 to Rs10,000. Meanwhile, they claimed schools charge students around Rs1,500 in monthly fees.
They further alleged that some teachers sign salary receipts showing Rs17,000 despite receiving much lower wages. In addition, they raised concerns about fake student enrolments and other administrative irregularities.

Thousands of Schools Lack Permanent Heads

Punjab’s public education system also faces a leadership shortage. According to available figures, the Punjab Education Department manages 9,217 high and higher secondary schools. However, only 2,973 schools have permanent headmasters, headmistresses, or principals.
As a result, 6,244 schools continue to function under temporary administrative arrangements. Education leaders believe this situation affects academic planning, school management, and decision-making.
They urged the Punjab government to stop outsourcing public schools and strengthen the public education system. They also stressed that providing free and quality education remains both a constitutional and moral responsibility of the state. Furthermore, they called for the immediate appointment of permanent school heads to improve educational standards and administrative stability across Punjab.