The Punjab School Education Department plans to privatize 500 public middle and high schools by November, after already privatizing 4,500 primary schools. Teachers are protesting this decision and plan a major sit-in in Lahore.
This month, the department will advertise middle and high schools set for privatization. So far, 4,500 primary schools have been privatized, with applications open for 7,500 more until November 25. By the end of November, 500 middle and high schools will also be privatized.
Leaders of the Grand Teachers Alliance (GDA), including Rana Liaquat, Basharat Iqbal Raja, and Shafiq Bhalwalia, have criticized the PML-N-led Punjab government for neglecting education and healthcare. They argue that privatizing schools and basic health centers will worsen inequality, making education unaffordable for the poor and lower-grade government employees’ children.
The GDA also pointed out a 50% rise in textbook prices, with another 25% increase expected next year, and warned that out-of-school children in Punjab could exceed 30 million by the end of 2024. They remain committed to a major protest in Lahore, vowing to continue until their concerns are addressed.