It has emerged that 1,084 school heads appointed after clearing the provincial selection test have not received their entitled charge allowance, raising concerns within the education sector. These appointments were made on merit, and the heads have been performing their administrative and academic responsibilities without receiving the additional financial compensation promised under existing rules.
According to official details, school heads are entitled to a monthly charge allowance of Rs1,200. However, despite completing four months of service, the allowance has not been disbursed to the affected officials. The delay has caused frustration among school heads, who say they are being asked to shoulder increased responsibility without the corresponding financial recognition.
The issue appears to be particularly acute in Lahore, where 135 candidates who passed the merit-based provincial test were appointed as school heads. In addition to the unpaid charge allowance, these officials have reportedly been denied other legitimate benefits, including leave encashment and conveyance allowances, further adding to their grievances.
School principals have pointed to administrative hurdles as the primary reason for the delay. They claim that the Accountant General (AG) Office has failed to formally recognize them as school heads for allowance purposes, despite official appointment orders and their active service in leadership roles at their respective institutions.
Affected officials argue that the situation has created unnecessary financial strain and uncertainty. They maintain that withholding allowances undermines morale and discourages competent teachers from taking on leadership roles in the future. Several principals have also highlighted that rising living costs make timely payment of allowances even more critical.
The school heads have now urged Punjab’s Provincial Education Minister, Rana Sikandar Hayat, to take immediate notice of the matter. They have called for clear instructions to the AG Office and relevant departments to resolve the issue without further delay and ensure that all pending allowances are released.
Education sector observers say the controversy reflects broader administrative inefficiencies that often impact frontline educators. They stress that resolving such issues promptly is essential to maintain trust in merit-based recruitment systems and to ensure that school leadership remains motivated and focused on improving educational outcomes.
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