Post-matric enrolment plunges in public schools

The trend reflects growing pressure on Punjab's public education system and raises serious questions about the future role of government higher secondary schools. Parents and students said there was a record shortage of science laboratories in higher secondary schools across the province, while facilities were lacking even where laboratories existed.

Government libraries were almost non-existent, they said. They said higher secondary schools also lacked permanent, qualified teachers for science subjects, mathematics, physics, statistics, chemistry and biology. Instead, daily-wage school interns had been appointed in place of permanent teachers, whose teaching system was not upgraded, they added.

Teachers' organisations said the decline in admissions to higher secondary schools was alarming and could lead to their rationalisation and staff cuts this year. They said higher secondary schools where fewer than 100 students had enrolled were likely to be merged with other higher secondary schools.

Punjab Teachers Union president Sufi Ramzan Inqalabi demanded that the higher secondary school system be upgraded in accordance with modern requirements. He also called for the immediate recruitment of permanent, highly qualified teachers for science subjects instead of daily-wage teachers.