LAHORE – In a landmark move aimed at transforming the education sector in Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has officially launched the ‘On-Wheel Montessori Schools’ initiative, alongside the province’s first-ever government school transport service.
The dual initiatives are designed to improve access to quality education, especially in underserved and remote areas, while also providing reliable transportation for students attending government schools across the province.
Bringing Education to the Doorstep
The On-Wheel Montessori Schools will operate as mobile classrooms, offering early childhood education directly within communities that lack basic schooling facilities. Officials say the initiative will help bridge learning gaps at the foundational level, while promoting inclusive and accessible education.
At the same time, the new school van service will resolve daily commute issues for thousands of students, particularly those in far-flung rural districts.
Recognising Excellence in Education
During a high-level review meeting of the School Education Department, CM Maryam also announced two new programmes to reward outstanding performance in the public education system:
- ‘School of the Month’ awards, based on discipline, facilities, labs, and teaching standards
- ‘Teacher of the Month’ recognitions to encourage excellence and dedication among educators
Impressive Gains Through Public-Private Partnership
Punjab’s outsourcing model for public schools, overseen by Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, has shown remarkable progress:
- Student enrollment increased by 99%
- Teaching staff grew by 114%, adding over 1.3 million students in just 16 months
- Created over 60,000 jobs for educated youth
- Renovation of 5,000+ classrooms, repair of 2,887 roofs, and construction of 413 new classrooms
- Solar panels installed in over 50 government schools
More Reforms on the Horizon
The meeting also approved expansion of the School Meal Programme to six additional districts: D.G. Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali, and Bahawalnagar, with meals to include milk, biscuits, and energy bars.
Future targets set by the Punjab government include:
- Construction of 10,000 new early childhood classrooms
- Setup of 6,000 science and STEM labs
- Addition of 400 toilet blocks in girls’ schools
- Introduction of IELTS-aligned English conversation training for 300,000 students
- Rollout of Google-based digital education tools
Aiming for World-Class Standards
CM Maryam Nawaz reiterated her vision to raise public schools above private institutions in quality. She also ordered an expansion of the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence, boosting capacity from 240 to 1,500 students, and emphasized standardized entry and training processes for teachers.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
