The shortage of primary teachers in Punjab government schools has reached alarming levels, with the number of vacant positions rising sharply to 115,000, an increase of 45,000. Over 9,000 primary schools in the region are grappling with a severe shortage of teachers, with only two to three teachers available per school. In Lahore alone, there are over 1,500 vacant positions for Primary School Teachers (PST), aggravating the scarcity of educators.
This shortage is not only impacting the quality of education but also hindering the transfers of existing teachers, particularly affecting female teachers who face long commutes due to the lack of staff. Previous government initiatives to address the issue, such as recruiting 14,000 teachers through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), were halted following changes in government leadership.
The situation is dire, as the need for 30,000 Instructional Support Teams (ISTs) for middle schools and 15,000 Student Success Teams (SSTs) for higher secondary schools becomes increasingly evident. Additionally, an estimated 30,000 teachers are expected to retire by 2027, further exacerbating the shortage and putting immense strain on the education system.
The school education department has issued warnings that failure to recruit new teachers could lead to significant challenges within the next three years, highlighting the urgent need for action to address this crisis and ensure the quality and continuity of education for Punjab’s students.
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