LAHORE: The Government of Punjab has decided to outsource 2,735 additional government schools to private operators and non-governmental organisations through the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF), further expanding its education management reforms.

Officials say the initiative is aimed at improving academic standards and addressing the issue of out-of-school children across the province. The School Education Department has invited applications from the private sector, setting March 31 as the deadline. Selected operators are expected to take charge of the schools in April.

The move is part of a broader plan under which the provincial government intends to outsource more than 14,000 public schools in two phases. According to media reports, over 11,000 schools were transferred to private management during the first phase last year. The development was discussed in a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Lahore on May 4, 2025.

Reports indicate that the outsourcing policy could affect more than 40,000 teaching positions across the province.

Opposition criticism

The policy has drawn criticism from Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, who questioned the government’s priorities during a public gathering.

He alleged that poverty in Punjab has increased and claimed that nearly 10 million children remain out of school. He also criticised provincial spending decisions and argued that education, as a constitutional right, should remain accessible to all.

The provincial government maintains that the outsourcing programme is intended to improve service delivery and management efficiency within the public education system.