KP govt opts to outsource public schools

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to outsource government schools across the province, in a move similar to that made earlier for public hospitals.

About 2,000 government elementary schools would be outsourced the private sector, claimed the provincial education department. The agency has previously approved the outsourcing plan for public schools in the province.

Officials said that so far 500 government schools have already been outsourced. The province government will grant each school roughly Rs300,000 monthly to meet the staff salaries and other operational expenditures.

233 schools in the winter zone districts have already been outsourced, the education department said. Enrollment in these institutions has reportedly jumped 89% after outsourcing, from 4,086 to 7,718 students.

Authorities also said the objective is to grow enrollment from 40 pupils per school to 180 within one year, and contracts will be terminated if performance targets are not attained.