Punjab begins privatizing government colleges after schools amid backlash

LAHORE: After privatizing thousands of public schools, the Punjab government has started the process of handing over public colleges to private management, drawing sharp backlash from teachers’ associations across the province.

Punjab currently operates 750 colleges, and in the first phase, 100 colleges — including both commerce colleges in Rawalpindi — will be outsourced to private organizations.

So far, the government has transferred 12,500 public schools under its education privatization program.

Starting November 1, another 7,000 primary and middle schools, along with several high and higher secondary schools, will be added to the next phase. Schools with fewer than 100 students will be outsourced, while staffing levels will depend on student enrollment.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government cannot justify spending Rs. 300,000 per student annually at commerce colleges. He announced plans to open large, modern commerce colleges equipped with advanced labs and up to 400 computers to improve learning standards.

The government aims to complete the privatization of schools and colleges by March 31, 2026, before the start of the new academic year. However, teachers’ unions have rejected the decision, announcing strikes, sit-ins, and province-wide protests against the plan.