Lahore — More than 12,000 School Teacher Interns (STIs) appointed in government schools across Punjab have reportedly not received their salaries for the past three months, raising concerns over financial hardship among temporary teaching staff.

According to reports, the unpaid salaries cover December, January, and February. Despite the delay, the interns have continued to perform their teaching duties in public schools across the province.

Financial strain on temporary teachers

The prolonged non-payment has left many interns struggling to manage routine expenses and essential needs. Several temporary teachers have appealed to the provincial education minister to intervene and ensure that the outstanding salaries are released without further delay.

The issue comes at a time when thousands of teaching positions remain vacant in Punjab’s public schools. The hiring of more than 12,500 additional temporary teachers is also reportedly on hold, increasing the workload on existing staff.

Officials from the School Education Department have stated that the pending salaries of the STIs will be cleared soon, though no specific timeline has been provided.

The development highlights ongoing administrative and staffing challenges within Punjab’s public education system.