Enrolment drive struggles to meet targets

Rawalpindi:

The Punjab Education Department’s ongoing enrolment campaign in government schools has received a lukewarm response, with limited progress towards meeting its target due to a delayed start and the privatisation of state schools.

The campaign officially began on March 1 in government schools across Punjab, including Rawalpindi district, with the first phase scheduled to conclude by May 31. During this phase, each class is tasked with enrolling 20 students. However, the campaign has not yet made significant strides in reaching its goals.

The delay in the enrolment process, which started later than anticipated, meant that many parents had already enrolled their children in local schools by early February. Additionally, the privatisation of 500 government schools across Punjab, including those in Rawalpindi, has further hampered efforts to attract new enrolments.

Many parents are now hesitant to send their children to government or larger private schools due to the country’s prevailing conditions. Consequently, local community schools have seen a surge in enrolment. These neighbourhood schools charge monthly fees ranging from Rs500 to Rs1,000, making them more accessible for families. Mothers often personally drop off and pick up their children from these schools, as parents are increasingly unwilling to send their children to schools farther from home, especially for children up to grade 4.

The privatisation of government schools has also led to an increase in dropout rates from public institutions. Irfan Muzaffar Kiyani, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA), says the number of out-of-school children in Punjab has reached 290,000 in the ongoing year, with this figure expected to surpass three million by the end of the year.

Currently, 11.9 million children are enrolled in government schools, while 22.5 million students attend private schools, he adds. The lower fees in private institutions have attracted a significant number of students, with private school enrolment starting on February 1.

Amanullah Cheema, the Chief Executive of the District Education Authority (DHA) Rawalpindi, highlighted at the official launch of the enrolment campaign that the government is offering quality education, free textbooks, and a conducive learning environment. He expressed confidence that the enrolment targets would be met and that the campaign would be carried out with full dedication.

Leaders of teachers’ organisations, including Shahid Mubarak, Basharat Iqbal Raja, and Shafique Bhalwalia, emphasized that government school teachers are highly qualified, holding PhD, MPhil, and Master’s degrees, and urged parents to consider enrolling their children in government schools.