Punjab is facing a serious shortage of government schools, with only about 38,000 public institutions available to serve a population of roughly 130 million.
A recent report by the Population Council highlights that this lack of facilities, along with poor infrastructure, is a key reason behind the province’s high dropout rates.
The report points out that Punjab will need around 19,000 more schools over the next 15 years to keep up with its rapidly growing population.
It calls on the provincial government to make education a top priority in the upcoming budget and allocate significant funds for the construction of new schools.
With the population growing at over 2.5% annually, the number of children of school-going age continues to rise, adding pressure on an already strained education system.
It’s estimated that nearly 10 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 are currently out of school in Punjab, largely because there simply aren’t enough schools.
A senior official from the Punjab School Education Department shared that there are currently around 21,702 primary, 7,200 middle, 8,000 high, and 800 higher secondary schools across the province’s 36 districts.
Yet, despite this setup, no new government school has been built in Lahore since 2011, leaving many new housing developments without any public school access.
The official also criticized the government’s recent policy of outsourcing public schools, which has been widely opposed by teachers.
Many believe this move ignores the needs of low-income families, who depend on free public education and are left with fewer options when schools are handed over to private hands.
Punjab Teachers Union Secretary General Rana Liaqat Ali voiced strong criticism of the outsourcing approach, stating, “We protested against outsourcing because we knew it wouldn’t solve the real problem.”
He welcomed the support and attention from international organizations and urged the government to prioritize long-term solutions for future generations.
He also stressed the urgent need to open more public colleges and universities to keep up with the growing number of students and ensure they have continued access to education.
Rana expressed hope that the upcoming provincial budget would show a real commitment to public education through serious investments in building and improving schools.