Maryam announces major reforms for Punjab schools

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of public schools to match the standards of private institutions.

Chairing a special meeting of the School Education Department on Thursday, the CM directed the construction of 5,000 new classrooms under the Public Schools Reorganization Programme (PSRP). She announced the establishment of modern labs to enhance students’ learning capacities and approved the creation of revolving funds for school construction and maintenance.

Maryam Nawaz also reviewed a proposal to launch a mobile bus library project to foster a reading culture among students and called for stricter enforcement of uniforms in government schools.

Authorities briefed her on the ongoing school meal programme in three districts of south Punjab, revealing that over 13.2 million milk packs have been distributed across 3,527 schools. The programme has resulted in the enrollment of over 38,000 new students since its launch, with daily milk provision updates monitored via a dashboard.

A significant achievement noted during the briefing was a 34% increase in school enrollment under the PSRP, with over 121,000 new students joining 5,675 schools. Teacher attendance has surged by 164%, and training sessions have been conducted across divisional headquarters.

The chief minister expressed grief over two tragic events: the loss of lives in an attack on passenger vehicles in Kurram district and the passing of former Test cricketer and umpire Nazir Jr. She extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.