FIRs Against Teachers, Schools Being Sold: Pakistan’s Education System on Life Support

Pakistan’s education system is facing a severe crisis, with a large population of children now out of school. Widespread school closures are threatening the future of millions, while government policies appear increasingly focused on privatization and selling off public institutions.

Punjab Worst Hit
Punjab province has been hit the hardest. According to The Express Tribune, 2025 has been the most challenging year for education in Punjab. Teachers’ unions and educationists say that protests, privatization, and policy uncertainties have crippled the system. Children who wish to study now face prohibitively high fees in privatized schools, leaving many unable to continue their education.

Schools and Colleges Being Sold
Throughout the year, teachers in cities like Rawalpindi have repeatedly protested against government policies deemed harmful to education. Sources in the education sector reveal that approximately 5,800 schools and 71 colleges were handed over to the private sector in 2025. Additionally, plans have been announced to outsource 10,500 primary schools, effectively putting them in private hands.

Three Crore Children on the Streets
Teachers’ organizations claim that privatization and rising costs have dramatically increased dropout rates. Over 700,000 children have already left school due to outsourcing. In Punjab alone, nearly 30 million children are now living on the streets. Rural areas are particularly affected, with schools being sold off and enrollment dropping. Some government schools now have fewer than 100 students.

Decline in Educational Institutions
Outsourcing has reduced the number of educational institutions from 52,000 to 38,000. Plans to upgrade Quranic teachers, IT lab managers, lab assistants, and lab attendants were not implemented. Due to lack of funding, around 1,500 upgraded schools have been closed.

Teachers’ Promotions and Job Security at Risk
In 2025, 14,000 teachers and assistant education officers were not regularized, while 46,000 teachers were transferred to areas far from their homes. Promotions for 25,000 senior teachers were halted. Teachers are now required to pass a licensing exam to continue teaching from 2026 onwards. Failure to pass the exam could jeopardize even the jobs of current teachers.

FIRs Filed Against Teachers
Teachers’ unions report that 5,000 teachers received show-cause notices and FIRs for refusing to perform duties related to socio-economic registration surveys. Over 32 teacher organizations, representing 61 groups, say none of their demands were met during the year. Teachers and non-teaching staff reportedly received no financial relief, while pension benefits were drastically cut. Transfers have also been made extremely difficult. In some schools, only a single teacher remains to manage the entire institution.

Pakistan’s education system, once a cornerstone of development, now teeters on the brink, with privatization, administrative neglect, and punitive measures against teachers threatening the education of millions of children.