LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the launch of school van/bus services and mobile Montessori schools across the province to improve access to education.
Chairing a special meeting of the School Education Department on Wednesday, the CM reviewed various projects, including outsourced schools and the upcoming school meal programme.
During the meeting, it was decided to introduce the “School of the Month” award based on discipline, classroom management, lab facilities, and quality of education. A “Teacher of the Month” award will also be given for outstanding performance.
Maryam Nawaz directed officials to take immediate steps to start the ‘On-Wheel Montessori School’ project and introduce a proper school van/bus system in government schools for the first time across Punjab. She also asked for a detailed plan for this initiative.
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Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat briefed the meeting on the department’s progress. Officials shared that outsourcing of schools has shown excellent results—student enrolment rose by 99%, and the number of teachers increased by 114%. Over 60,000 educated youth have gained employment through these partnerships.
The Punjab School Education Department has set a global record for running the largest public-private partnership in the education sector. In just 16 months, enrolment increased by 1.3 million students, and another 10,500 schools will be outsourced in the next year.
The CM also reviewed other education reforms. She praised the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) and Education Tech Schools, which have been launched successfully. She ordered the expansion of tech-based schools in rural areas.
An English conversation pilot programme is also underway. Under this initiative, 300,000 students will improve their English speaking skills to IELTS Standard-4 level within six months.
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So far, 10,000 classrooms for Early Childhood Education have been set up across Punjab. The CM further ordered to increase student capacity at the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence from 240 to 1,500 students.
The school meal programme will be launched in selected districts including Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali, and Bahawalnagar to support students’ health and learning.
In addition, she directed the construction of 6,000 new labs for science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and other subjects across the province.
Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz paid rich tribute to Fatima Jinnah on her 58th death anniversary, calling her a symbol of courage, character, and dignity for Pakistani women. She said Fatima Jinnah played a key role in Pakistan’s freedom movement and will always be remembered as the Mother of the Nation.
