The Punjab Education Department has initiated the recall of bonus salaries that were mistakenly paid to 35,000 daily wage teachers as part of their May 2026 stipends. School teacher interns were initially overjoyed to see an additional amount credited to their accounts during their summer vacations, but the department later declared it a system error and ordered the recovery of the excess payments.
Details of the Overpayment
According to a letter issued by the department, the May 2026 stipend bills of school teacher interns were processed and the money was transferred to their bank accounts. However, as per the approved schedule, all temporary daily wage teachers were entitled to salaries only until May 21, 2026, as summer vacations began on May 22. Due to a processing error, all 30,000 school interns were accidentally paid a full month's stipend for May, resulting in an overpayment for the period from May 22 to 31, equivalent to 10 days' salary.
Recovery Process
The department has directed all concerned offices to collect the excess amount paid to the school interns under their management by June 15 and deposit it in the government treasury. This has caused distress among the affected teachers, who argue that the error was not their fault.
Teachers' Reaction
The daily wage school teachers have expressed their disappointment, stating that they had already used the additional funds to cover Eid expenses. They are now worried about how they will be able to return the amount, especially since the department had decided to give them early holidays this year by announcing vacations from May 22. The teachers emphasize that the overpayment was a departmental mistake, and they should not be held responsible for it.
