LAHORE: Opposition and treasury lawmakers put Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on the spot in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday, drawing attention to the dilapidated condition of schools and colleges in their constituencies and questioning the effectiveness of the government’s education policies.
Lawmakers Raise Concerns
Members from both sides of the aisle complained about crumbling infrastructure, inadequate facilities, and the lack of higher education institutions in several districts. This prompted the minister to announce a series of development initiatives and pledge that long-standing issues in educational institutions would be addressed.
During a question hour on higher education, opposition MPA Sardar Muhammad Ali said education reforms had not produced visible results and complained about the absence of a university in his constituency. He also raised concerns about high education costs and limited teaching days.
Minister Announces New Universities
Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat responded by announcing two universities in Ali’s district and expansion of the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Excellence programme. He said government schools had improved and were attracting students from private institutions.
Opposition MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan questioned teacher funding and the growth of private tuition academies, while treasury member Rahila Khadim Hussain highlighted the poor condition of Government Graduate College for Women, Baghbanpura.
Infrastructure Repairs Promised
The minister promised repairs at the college within seven months and acknowledged that a lack of maintenance funding had contributed to deteriorating conditions across Punjab. He proposed a committee to address infrastructure issues and called for a dedicated maintenance budget.
The issue of higher education facilities in Rajanpur also came under discussion. PPP lawmakers Shazia Abid and Ali Haider Gilani raised concerns about higher education in Rajanpur and opposed any merger involving Mir Chakar Khan University.
Plans for Sub-Campuses
Hayat said eight districts still lacked universities but announced plans for 37 university sub-campuses, including two in Rajanpur. He also defended the Punjab Education Foundation model, saying its schools outperformed government institutions in recent exams. He announced that subsidies for students enrolled in PEF schools would be increased to Rs2,200 per child, enabling teacher salaries to rise further, potentially reaching Rs35,000 to Rs40,000.
Political Sparring
The session also saw political sparring when treasury member Ahsan Raza blamed the PTI for failing to deliver in education and other sectors, claiming the country had been pushed decades backward during its tenure. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan eventually directed him to resume his seat and intervened to restore order in the House.
Opposition member Hassan Khan challenged several of the education minister’s claims, alleging that the information being presented to the Assembly was inaccurate.
Speaker Criticizes Absenteeism
As the proceedings concluded, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan strongly criticized the absence of ministers and parliamentary secretaries. He observed that lawmakers were raising important public issues but no minister or parliamentary secretary was present to listen to them. After completion of the agenda, the Speaker adjourned the session until 2 pm on Wednesday.
