The Education Department in Attock has directed School Teaching Interns (STIs) to return what it describes as excess stipend payments made for May 2026, triggering resentment among hundreds of interns who insist they were legally entitled to the amount under the terms of their appointments.
Official Directive Issued
According to an official directive issued by the office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Education, Attock, all STIs have been instructed to deposit the alleged overpayment into the government treasury by June 15. The dispute centers on the calculation of stipend payments for May.
Reason for Overpayment
Education authorities maintain that interns were eligible to receive remuneration only up to May 21 because summer vacations in government schools commenced on May 22. However, stipend payments were processed for the entire month and credited to interns' bank accounts up to May 31. As a result, the department says payments covering the final ten days of the month were made in excess of entitlement and must now be recovered.
In its written communication, the CEO Education office stated: “All the STIs are directed to deposit the overpayment they received in the government exchequer till 15-06-2026.”
Interns' Response
The directive has prompted a strong reaction from interns serving in schools across the district. They argue that their appointment orders remained effective until May 31 and that the closure of educational institutions for summer vacations was a government decision beyond their control. The interns contend that they accepted employment under contracts that covered the entire month and fulfilled all obligations required of them. They therefore view the recovery order as both unfair and contrary to the terms under which they were appointed.
“We were appointed until May 31, not May 21,” several interns told this correspondent. “If schools were closed early for summer vacations, that was a government decision. We should not be penalised for it.”
Official Stance
An official of the Education Department, when approached for comment, said the recovery process was being undertaken on instructions from higher authorities and in accordance with applicable financial regulations governing admissible payment periods. The controversy has also generated debate among financial and administrative experts.
District Accounts Officer Attock, Ziaullah Niazi, said the legality of the recovery would depend largely on the nature of the appointments. If STIs were hired on a daily-wage basis, recovery of payment for days not worked could be justified. However, if they were engaged on a fixed lump-sum contractual arrangement, the grounds for recovery would be considerably weaker.
“The determining factor is the appointment framework,” he explained. “If the engagement was contractual with a fixed monthly payment, the issue may need further examination before any recovery can be enforced.”
Background of STI Programme
The STI programme was launched to address teacher shortages in government schools and ensure continuity of education in classrooms facing staffing gaps. Hundreds of interns were deployed across Attock district under the initiative and have been performing teaching duties since their appointments. The latest dispute has placed the programme under scrutiny, with interns demanding clarification from provincial authorities and seeking withdrawal of the recovery orders.
Uncertainty Ahead
With the June 15 deadline fast approaching, uncertainty continues to surround the issue. Education officials insist that payments beyond the approved period must be returned to the public exchequer, while interns maintain that their contracts remained valid until the end of May and that the stipend was paid in accordance with their appointment terms. The matter is now expected to be taken up with higher authorities, whose decision will determine whether the recovery order is enforced or withdrawn.
