Around 20,000 teachers employed at 4,300 schools overseen by the Punjab Education Initiatives Management Authority (PEIMA) in Pakistan have not received their salaries for the past three months. This delay has caused financial difficulties for the teachers, with many considering leaving their jobs. The non-payment of salaries could lead to school closures, affecting the education of approximately 600,000 students.
Teachers and school administrations have highlighted that salaries for January, February, and March are pending, making it challenging for schools to meet financial obligations. The situation has prompted concerns about a potential shortage of teachers, which could disrupt academic activities in numerous schools and jeopardize the students’ future under the program. The teachers have expressed frustration over repeated assurances of imminent payment releases, emphasizing the adverse impact on their financial stability and household expenses.
PEIMA’s Chief Executive Officer, Imtiaz Shahid Gondal, mentioned that salaries up to January have been disbursed, and efforts are underway to process the release of February salaries, expected within the next five to seven days. The delay in salary payments has raised fears of protests by teachers if their pending salaries are not cleared before Eid, further exacerbating the financial strain on the educators.
A recent government report disclosed that 26.2 million children in Pakistan are still out of school. The ‘Girls’ Education Statistics and Trends Report 2023-24’ released by Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training highlighted the significant number of children, including 3.4 million girls, who are not enrolled in schools. The report also underscored funding challenges, noting a decline in education financing and reduced allocations from various provinces, particularly Punjab and Sindh.
