Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has introduced a range of impactful education reforms aimed at transforming public schooling across the province.
A key initiative is the launch of a dedicated van service for government school students, along with the introduction of “on-wheels Montessori schools” to help bring early education to underserved areas.
During a high-level meeting with the School Education Department, she directed officials to prepare a detailed plan for the province’s first structured school transport system, with a special focus on children from remote regions.
The meeting also approved the introduction of a “School and Teacher of the Month” award. Winners will be chosen based on criteria such as discipline, teaching standards, lab performance, and academic results.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat reported notable success from the public-private school outsourcing model.
This program has led to a 99% jump in student enrolment and a 114% rise in teaching staff. So far, it has created over 60,000 jobs for educated youth.
With 1.3 million students enrolled in just 16 months, Punjab now leads with the world’s largest education-based public-private partnership.
For the coming year, 10,500 more schools are planned for outsourcing. The first phase alone attracted 40,000 applications for 5,700 schools.
The meeting highlighted extensive upgrades in schools across Punjab, including:
- 413 new classrooms constructed
- Over 5,000 classrooms renovated
- 2,887 school roofs repaired
- Boundary walls built across 254,000 square metres
- More than 50 schools shifted to solar energy
- Distribution of 1,643 water tanks, 5,830 coolers, and 9,303 blackboards
In some districts like Faisalabad, community models are being used to provide midday meals in outsourced schools.
Additionally, over 70,000 furniture sets have been delivered to improve the classroom experience.
Under the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) Tech Schools pilot, technical training is being introduced with plans to expand it in rural regions.
An English Conversation Programme, aligned with IELTS Level 4, will help 300,000 students enhance their language skills in just six months.
To strengthen early education, 10,000 classrooms have already been furnished for early childhood learning.
The Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence will grow its capacity from 240 to 1,500 students. A new School Meal Programme will launch in several districts, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali, and Bahawalnagar. Students will receive milk, biscuits, energy bars, and other nutritious food items.
By the end of the year, hundreds of new classrooms and more than 400 toilet blocks in girls’ schools are expected to be completed. Other future plans include:
- Setting up 6,000 STEM and science labs
- Continued digital training for teachers and students through Google
- Ongoing staff adjustments to improve school operations
Maryam Nawaz emphasized the need for excellent teacher training and called for all school entrances across Punjab to follow a uniform design, creating a cohesive and welcoming look.
“Our mission is to make public schools in Punjab better than even the top private institutions,” she said.