A serious teacher shortage is hurting girls education in a remote part of Attock district. At Government Girls High School Panmotha, more than 450 students are being taught by only six teachers across 11 classes. With just five classrooms, six classes sit in the open air, facing summer heat, winter cold and rain. Parents and community members have now appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister and education officials for urgent help.
This story is not only about one school. It shows the wider problem of staff and space shortages in rural girls schools of Punjab. Below we look at the situation, what the community is demanding and how the government programmes such as STI hiring could help.
Teacher Shortage at Government Girls High School Panmotha
| Indicator | Situation |
|---|---|
| Students enrolled | 450+ |
| Teachers | 6 |
| Classes | 11 |
| Classrooms | 5 |
| Classes held outdoors | 6 |
With six teachers handling eleven classes, each teacher is forced to cover more than one class at the same time or combine sections. That leaves little time for individual attention, checking homework or preparing lessons properly. Subjects that need specialist teachers, such as science and mathematics in high classes, suffer the most.
Open-Air Classes and Missing Furniture
The lack of classrooms is just as worrying as the lack of teachers. Many girls sit on the floor or on broken desks. In summer they study under the sun, and in winter they face cold winds. When it rains, outdoor classes are pushed into rooms that are already overcrowded, and teaching almost stops. Such conditions make it hard for students to focus and are a major reason behind rising dropout fears in the area.
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Impact of Teacher Shortage on Girls Education
Research and experience across Pakistan show that girls in rural areas are more likely to leave school when facilities are poor. Long distances, safety worries and weak teaching already push many families to stop their daughters after primary or middle level. A girls school in Attock without enough teachers or rooms makes that decision easier for parents, which is the opposite of what the province wants to achieve.
- Lower learning results in board exams
- Higher dropout after Class 8
- Less interest in science subjects
- Extra burden and stress on the few teachers present
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What the Community Is Demanding
Parents and residents have urged the Punjab Chief Minister, the Secretary School Education, the Deputy Commissioner Attock and the CEO of the District Education Authority to act. Their main demands are:
- At least six additional classrooms
- More teachers, especially for high classes
- Adequate furniture for all students
- Practical steps instead of only verbal assurances
The report did not include any official response so far.
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How STI Hiring and Rationalisation Could Help
Punjab is currently recruiting School Teacher Interns for government schools, with merit lists due on 23 October and interviews on 29-30 October 2026. Schools like Panmotha can benefit if their vacant seats were included in the internship advertisement. The education department can also use teacher rationalisation, moving surplus staff from overstaffed urban schools to understaffed rural ones. For classrooms, funds under school development programmes or district budgets can be used to build extra rooms or provide temporary shelters.
Role of Local Teachers and Graduates
Young women graduates from Attock and nearby villages can play an important role. Applying for STI internships or other teaching posts in local schools not only gives them jobs but also provides role models for girls in the community. Teachers already serving can document problems in writing and share them with the district authority, which helps officials justify new posts and funds.
A Wider Teacher Shortage Across Rural Punjab
Panmotha is not an isolated case. Education department data and media reports over the years have pointed to vacant posts in many rural schools of Attock, Chakwal, Rajanpur and other districts, while some city schools have more staff than they need. Female teachers in particular are hard to post to far-off villages because of travel and safety issues. Solving the teacher shortage therefore needs local hiring, transport support and fair transfer policies, not just new advertisements.
Read the original report in The Nation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many teachers does GGHS Panmotha have?
Only six teachers for more than 450 students and 11 classes.
Why are classes being held outdoors?
The school has only five classrooms, so six classes have to sit in the open air.
What has the community asked for?
At least six more classrooms, additional teachers and proper furniture.