Government Schools Outperform Private Schools in Matric Exams
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat announced that government schools have significantly improved and now outperform private schools in the recent matriculation exams.
At a press conference with Provincial Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Hayat shared key achievements from his early months in office, leading to changes in private school fee structures.
Key highlights include:
- Cheating Prevention: 270 cheating centers were shut down during the exams, with a strict no-tolerance policy in place for intermediate exams.
- Top Positions: For the first time in five years, government schools secured top positions in five out of nine educational boards.
- Student Awards: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has allocated 250 million rupees in awards for top-performing students.
- Danish School Success: The Danish School’s results were praised, proving its excellence and countering critics.
- Teacher Shortage Reduction: The shortage of 180,000 teachers has been reduced to 38,000 through better use of existing staff, with plans to eliminate the deficit within three months.
- Transparency in Transfers: An e-transfer policy has been introduced to eliminate bribery and favoritism, and 2,000 hidden posts in the School Information app have been revealed.
- South Punjab Program: A new program offers foundational learning and three-month technical courses to 150,000 children in South Punjab to help them become self-sufficient.
- University Reforms: Permanent vice-chancellors are being appointed through merit-based processes, with no recommendations allowed, and past irregularities are being audited.
Minister Hayat emphasized the government’s commitment to improving government schools and attracting private sector students. He also stressed that private schools must follow the new policies.
