The Punjab School Education Department has decided to conduct personal hearings for hardship-based transfer applications under the e-Transfer Policy 2024, marking a significant administrative step aimed at improving transparency in the transfer process.
According to sources, scrutiny committees have been established to ensure effective review of teachers’ transfer cases. A separate committee has been formed for officers in Grade 17 and above, while another committee will examine cases of employees up to Grade 16.
The Additional Secretary, School Education, has been appointed as the convener of both committees, while Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the relevant districts will serve as committee members.
The committees will review teachers’ appeals on a case-by-case basis and are required to submit their recommendations within 10 days.
Officials stated that following recent amendments to the e-Transfer Policy, all appeals will now undergo formal hearings. The School Education Department believes the new mechanism will help ensure transparency, fairness, and timely decision-making in the teachers’ transfer process.
Punjab: Decision made on extension in school holidays
In a separate development, the Punjab government has made a major decision regarding the extension of holidays in schools throughout the province.
As per the decision, schools in Punjab will open from April 1, and no further extension in holidays is planned, according to provincial education minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.
The schools will begin formal classes from April 1 for five days in a week.
According to the minister, making schools functional for three or four days would not be feasible and would affect the educational process.
He clarified that educational institutions will not operate under a hybrid system. Reports about schools opening only three or four days a week are baseless.
All institutions will reopen as per routine and continue normal academic activities.
He urged parents, teachers, and students not to rely on rumours circulating on social media and to trust only official statements.
He said authorities are aware of the academic losses caused by closures and will try to ensure the education system runs without disruption.
Schools in Punjab have been closed from March 10 to reduce economic pressure from rising fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.
Officials had considered options like extending closures, hybrid learning, and fuel rationing to tackle the energy crisis.
The government has now decided to fully restore academic activities across the province, ensuring students return to classrooms without further delay.
