Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced strict action against teachers working at schools that record extremely poor matriculation results. He said the Punjab government will dismiss teachers at schools where the pass rate is 20 percent or lower, without issuing show-cause notices.
Speaking at a press conference at the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) on Friday, Hayat said he accepted responsibility for the Class 9 and 10 examination results. However, he stressed that accountability was necessary to improve the performance of public schools across the province.
The minister said recent reforms introduced by the government had affected pass percentages in the latest examinations. These measures included changes to board examinations, greater transparency and action against cheating networks. He maintained that despite the lower pass rates in some areas, Punjab’s overall education standards had improved during the past two years.
Hayat said authorities had successfully conducted this year’s examinations without reporting cheating or paper leaks at any examination centre. He said the government had taken several steps to make the examination system more transparent and ensure that students were assessed fairly.
The minister also highlighted changes to the Class 9 curriculum. According to Hayat, Punjab shortened and updated the curriculum this year to bring it closer to international education standards. The province also conducted trials of on-screen marking, with the system expected to be fully implemented from next year.
Another major change involved practical examinations. For the first time, practical papers were marked at the board level, according to the minister. He said the government would also establish a committee to review the latest examination results and identify areas where improvements are needed.
Hayat said authorities had identified around 2,200 schools across Punjab where the matriculation pass rate was 20 percent or below. Teachers at these schools will face dismissal under the government’s announced policy. At the same time, the minister said teachers who produce strong results would be rewarded for their performance.
The minister pointed to the performance of outsourced schools as an example of the difference that teacher performance can make. He said these schools recorded an overall pass rate of 81 percent, suggesting that better management and teaching practices could produce stronger academic outcomes.
The announcement has placed increased focus on teacher accountability across Punjab’s public education system. The government is expected to review the performance of schools and teachers while examining the factors behind the low results before implementing further measures.
Hayat also rejected reports that student enrollment in public colleges and universities was declining. He claimed that admissions had increased significantly this year and said official records supported the government’s position.
The latest measures indicate that the Punjab government is seeking to link teacher performance more closely with student outcomes while continuing to introduce reforms in the examination and education system.
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