A serious situation has developed in Punjab’s education sector as the salaries of more than 12,000 School Teacher Interns (STIs) have reportedly been delayed for the past two months. These teachers, who were appointed temporarily to support government schools, are fulfilling their duties daily but have still not received their payments due to an unresolved salary disbursement mechanism within the Punjab School Education Department.
According to media reports, the department has not finalized whether salaries should be transferred through banks or routed through school heads, causing continuous delays. Despite contract extensions and continuing their work, teachers remain unpaid, creating financial and emotional stress for thousands of families across the province.
Teachers Working Without Payment Across Punjab
These unpaid School Teacher Interns are currently serving in government schools across major districts including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, and several other regions of Punjab. They are performing regular teaching duties such as lesson planning, delivering lectures, managing classrooms, maintaining records, preparing students for exams, and supporting school administrations.
However, despite working like regular teachers, they have not received salaries for two consecutive months. Many interns belong to middle-class and lower-income families and depend heavily on this monthly salary to manage daily expenses. Without pay, several teachers are facing financial hardships, including difficulty in paying bills, managing household expenses, transportation costs, and other basic needs.
The Main Reason Behind the Salary Delay
Reports indicate that the primary reason behind this salary delay is the lack of a finalized payment mechanism within the Punjab School Education Department. Authorities are still confused about whether the salaries should be:
- Deposited directly into teachers’ bank accounts, or
- Issued through school heads or district education offices
Because this decision has not been finalized, payment files are reportedly stuck at various administrative levels. This bureaucratic delay has resulted in unnecessary suffering for thousands of working teachers who expected timely payment after completing their duties every month.
Instead of resolving the matter quickly, the issue continues to linger, raising serious concerns about management efficiency within the department.
Contracts Extended but Salaries Still Blocked
Interestingly, the Punjab government recently extended the contracts of these School Teacher Interns across the province. Teachers welcomed the extension and continued working with the hope that their financial issues would be resolved soon.
However, even after the contract renewal, the salary issue remains unresolved. Teachers feel they have been ignored despite their dedication and service to the education system. Many believe the government should have ensured a proper payment system before extending contracts and assigning duties again.
This failure reflects poor planning, weak coordination, and lack of seriousness toward the teaching community.
Impact on Teachers and Their Families
The delay has affected thousands of teachers personally and emotionally. Many of them rely solely on this job for income. Without salaries for two months, they have been pushed into financial uncertainty.
Some possible impacts include:
- Financial burden and debt pressure
- Mental stress and frustration
- Loss of motivation and morale
- Difficulty continuing duties smoothly
- Fear of future insecurity
Some teachers have expressed that they are finding it difficult to even pay transportation costs to reach schools daily. Others are worried about feeding their families and managing utility bills.
Negative Impact on Students and Education
This issue is not only affecting teachers — it is also impacting students and the overall education environment in Punjab. When teachers are stressed and financially unstable, their performance in classrooms naturally gets affected.
Possible effects on education include:
- Declining teacher motivation
- Disturbed focus during teaching
- Potential absenteeism if situation worsens
- Fear of protests or strikes
- Unstable academic environment
If the matter is not resolved urgently, it may lead to serious educational disruption across government schools.
Governance and Accountability Questions
This situation has raised strong questions regarding governance and administrative capability in Punjab’s education system. Punjab is the largest province with a massive education budget, yet thousands of working teachers are unpaid simply because authorities failed to finalize a payment process.
This highlights:
- Weak planning
- Slow decision-making
- Lack of accountability
- Poor communication between departments
Many education analysts believe that if such simple administrative tasks cannot be handled properly, then long-term education reforms become difficult to trust.
Public and Media Reaction
Local media channels and social media platforms are now discussing the issue. Many citizens and education activists are criticizing the government for neglecting teachers who are playing a key role in shaping the future of students.
People are questioning how the province expects quality education when teachers themselves are struggling financially. Social media users are demanding immediate action from the Punjab government to release salaries without further delay.
What the Government Needs to Do
Experts suggest that the Punjab School Education Department must take urgent and practical action to resolve this crisis. Immediate steps should include:
- Finalizing a clear, transparent, and permanent payment system
- Ensuring salary transfers through banks to avoid delays
- Speeding up pending approvals and documentation
- Preventing future delays through proper planning
- Showing respect and dignity toward teachers’ services
Teachers deserve timely salaries as a basic right, not as a favor.
Conclusion – Salaries of 12,000 Punjab School Teacher Interns Delayed for Two Months
The delay in salaries of over 12,000 Punjab School Teacher Interns for two months has become a serious concern. These teachers are working daily to support Punjab’s education system, yet they remain unpaid due to administrative confusion and poor decision-making.
The Punjab government and School Education Department must take immediate notice and resolve this issue urgently. Timely payment is not only a financial matter — it is a matter of fairness, dignity, and respect for teachers who are educating the next generation.