The Punjab government has planned to introduce a bill in the Punjab Assembly to register
teachers across the province in a bid to 'improve quality of
education and curb harassment'.
According to
Education Minister Murad Ras, the bill proposes licences for
teachers to provide them better employment opportunities in Pakistan and overseas. It will also help in curbing harassment of students and teaching staff at
private schools.
“Like doctors and engineers,
teachers will also be registered and law to the effect will be shortly laid before the Punjab Assembly,” the minister said while speaking in the provincial assembly.
He also claimed that after online registration of 60,000
private schools post-Eidul Azha, the role of money and sifarish (recommendation) would be abolished. He lamented that technology was never used in governing educational institutions by previous governments.
The announcement of issuance of the licences to the
teachers came on the heels of a bill that
gave sweeping powers to the government concerning confiscation and ban on books. It was approved by the Punjab Assembly and has been sent to the governor for signature.
Moreover, the Punjab textbook board has already
banned 100 books, being taught at
private schools, in the country on account of 'anti-Pakistan' and anti-Islam content.