PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has announced a complete ban on teacher postings and transfers, effective from September 10.
According to the department, the decision was taken to ensure smooth academic activities as schools have reopened after summer vacations. Officials said transfers at this stage could disrupt the learning process.
Teachers from all cadres have been instructed not to visit the Education Minister’s office or the Secretariat with transfer requests. The department has warned that strict action will be taken against anyone who violates the ban.
All district education offices have been directed to ensure strict compliance. Transfers will now only be allowed once a year during summer vacations and strictly under the e-transfer policy.
The Education Minister urged teachers to focus fully on students’ learning, stressing that uninterrupted education must remain the top priority.
Meanwhile, school teachers across KP will soon need a licence to continue teaching as part of the government’s efforts to improve educational standards. According to the Education Department, only registered and licensed teachers will be allowed to teach in schools.
A new regulatory body will be established to issue and renew these licences based on teachers’ performance. The 15-member body will also develop a standardised licensing framework and set teaching standards through regular evaluations and reviews.
— ALSO READ —
Govt plans removal of cross-subsidy in industrial power tariff
The department has allocated Rs200 million for the establishment of this body, which aims to improve the quality of education and boost student learning outcomes by ensuring only professionally qualified teachers are in classrooms.
KP’s education sector has been facing serious challenges. In November last year, more than 5,200 community-school teachers in remote girls’ schools went unpaid for eight months, affecting the education of around 276,000 students.
This crisis was followed by severe textbook shortages at the start of the new academic year, leaving schools without essential learning materials. More recently, 15 school principals were suspended after poor SSC exam results, highlighting weaknesses in school leadership.
According to the District Education Performance Index (DEPIx) Report 2020-23 by the Planning Commission, Pakistan’s national average score stands at 53.46, placing the country in the “low” performance category.
