Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review key initiatives of the School Education Department, focusing on ongoing reforms such as school outsourcing, the School Meal Programme, and new projects aimed at improving access, quality, and infrastructure.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister announced the introduction of the “School of the Month” and “Teacher of the Month” awards to recognize outstanding performance in discipline, classroom management, lab facilities, and overall education quality.

Key decisions included the launch of an “On-Wheel Montessori School” project and the province’s first government-operated school van and bus service.

CM Maryam directed officials to prepare a comprehensive plan for the implementation of this regular school transport system across Punjab.

Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat presented a detailed briefing highlighting the success of the school outsourcing model.

He revealed that student enrolment in outsourced schools has surged by 99%, while teacher recruitment increased by 114%. Over 60,000 educated youth have secured employment opportunities through the initiative.

The Chief Minister was informed that a midday meal programme is being rolled out in selected districts including Faisalabad on a self-help basis.

The scheme will be expanded to Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali, and Bahawalnagar.

The proposal includes distributing milk, energy bars, and biscuits to students.

Maryam Nawaz also directed the expansion of the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) Education Tech Schools to rural areas. The schools are part of a tech-driven education initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide.

An English language pilot programme is also underway, targeting 300,000 children to achieve proficiency in spoken English at IELTS Standard-4 level within six months.

Additionally, 10,000 classrooms have been established across Punjab for Early Childhood Education.

The number of students at the Nawaz Sharif Center of Excellence will be increased from 240 to 1,500. Over 400 toilet blocks are being constructed in girls’ schools to improve sanitation.

Training programmes for teachers and students, including Google-based digital education, are progressing successfully.

The Chief Minister directed the establishment of 6,000 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) labs across Punjab and emphasized the need for quality teacher training, rationalization of school staff, and uniform improvement of school entrances across the province.

Reaffirming her commitment to educational reform, CM Maryam Nawaz said the goal is to raise the standard of government schools above that of private institutions in Punjab.