The Punjab government is considering a major expansion of its public school outsourcing programme after completing the first three phases of the initiative.
The School Education Department has started preparing a final list of schools for Phase IV of the Public Schools Reorganisation Programme (PSRP). Around 6,460 more government schools could be included in the next phase.
The proposed list includes around 600 high schools and 5,860 primary and middle schools. However, the exact number will be confirmed after the department completes and approves the Phase IV list.
The schools remain public institutions, but their management is handed to selected private service providers under a public-private partnership model, under the programme.
Moreover, Punjab has already transferred thousands of government schools to private management in earlier phases.
In Phase III, another 2,682 government schools were outsourced, and included 42 schools from Lahore.
Earlier phases mainly focused on primary schools. The government later decided to extend the programme to middle schools as well.
Schools with low enrollment, poor performance or limited facilities have been among those considered for outsourcing. The 2025 school census has also been used to identify institutions for the programme.
Phase IV to include High Schools
The proposed Phase IV would further expand the programme by bringing hundreds of high schools into the outsourcing system.
The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) says the first phase resulted in higher enrolment and attendance at participating schools. According to PEF, enrolment in Phase I schools increased from 228,867 students at the time of handover to 501,965 verified students. It also reported student attendance of around 90 per cent.
PEF also says private operators invested in new classrooms, repairs, toilets, boundary walls, furniture, water facilities and other infrastructure at outsourced schools.
Currently, the 6,460 schools remains proposed rather than final. The final number and implementation details will become clear once the School Education Department completes the Phase IV list.