Thousands of School Teacher Interns in Punjab who lost their placements when contracts ran out before the summer break now have a confirmed route back to the classroom. The Punjab government has approved an STI contract extension that keeps eligible interns engaged until 31 May 2027, along with an additional monthly allowance of Rs15,000, subject to revised programme terms.
Here are the key points of the STI contract extension at a glance:
- The STI contract extension covers Phase One and Phase Two interns.
- Fresh contracts run until 31 May 2027.
- An additional Rs15,000 monthly allowance has been approved, subject to revised terms.
- Interns who resigned or left before 31 May 2026 are not eligible under the STI contract extension.
The decision ends months of uncertainty for interns from the first and second phases of the programme. It also matters to fresh candidates, because the same round of decisions cleared the way for new hiring against vacant slots in government schools.
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What the STI Contract Extension Covers
The approval was reported by ProPakistani on 16 September 2026. Under it, School Teaching Interns appointed in Phase One and Phase Two will receive fresh contracts running until 31 May 2027. All District Education Authorities in Punjab have been directed to issue the new agreements to eligible interns.
Eligibility is limited. Interns whose previous terms ended on 31 May 2026 are to be given fresh contracts, while those whose contracts were never terminated can continue. Anyone who resigned or left their post before 31 May 2026 will not qualify for the extension.
The Rs15,000 figure has drawn the most attention. Available reports describe it as an additional monthly allowance tied to the programme’s revised terms and conditions. However, those revised terms have not been published in any public document we could review, so it is not yet clear how the amount will be applied across different stipend levels. Our STI stipend 2026-27 guide explains the current slabs and lets you estimate your monthly payment, but interns should still confirm the exact figure with their district office.
The extension did not come out of nowhere. On 10 September, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said the Chief Minister had approved a summary to bring roughly 25,000 STIs back to schools. Teacher bodies had been pressing for an early decision, and many schools had been running short of staff since the interns’ terms lapsed.
A follow-up notification from the Punjab School Education Department, dated 25 September 2026, then set out the administrative details. It allows already engaged interns to continue through fresh agreements, with the period shown as 24 August 2026 to 31 May 2027. It also permits fresh hiring against vacant slots under the STI Program 2024 and a district-wise allocation. Chief Executive Officers of all District Education Authorities were told to act immediately.
Readers should note one difference. The 16 September reports gave a start date of 16 September, while the later notification lists 24 August. Since the notification is the official instrument, interns should check which date appears on their own agreement, especially if they rejoined before mid-September.
What STIs and New Candidates Should Do Next
For serving and returning interns, the first step is simple. Contact your head teacher or the CEO office of your District Education Authority and sign the fresh agreement once it is issued. Before signing, check that the contract period is correct and that the revised terms linked to the Rs15,000 allowance are clearly stated. Our STI fresh agreement 2026-27 guide includes a quick eligibility checker, and the STI rejoining 2026 checklist lists the documents you should keep ready.
Interns who resigned before 31 May 2026 are not covered by this STI contract extension. They may, however, look at the fresh intake if they still meet the programme criteria. Our guide to STI eligibility criteria explains who can apply and what documents are usually needed.
New applicants should be careful. Fresh STI recruitment has been approved in principle, but as of 29 September 2026 no Punjab-wide application schedule or last date has been announced in the official notification. Vacancies will depend on each district’s allocation, so numbers will differ from one district to another. Details of the notification are covered in our report on fresh STI hiring against vacant slots, and our district-wise STI vacancies page will track seats as they are notified.
Candidates should also avoid unofficial links that claim to accept applications or charge fees. Apply only through official channels announced by the School Education Department.
It is also worth remembering what the programme is. The School Teacher Internship has always been framed as a temporary arrangement to fill gaps in government schools. It does not amount to a regular government appointment, and the extension does not change that.
Source: Details of the STI contract extension were first reported by ProPakistani on 16 September 2026, with administrative details in the School Education Department notification of 25 September 2026.
The verified position is clear: eligible Phase One and Phase Two interns will continue until 31 May 2027, district offices have been told to issue fresh contracts, and new hiring against vacant slots has been approved. The finer points, including how the Rs15,000 allowance will be paid and when fresh applications will open, still depend on official instructions. Keep checking the School Education Department’s notices and our latest STI updates for any change.
