Actions include dismissal, early retirement, and fine for misconduct
RAWALPINDI:
The Punjab’s Education Department has said it penalised 881 officers and staff members from grades 1 to 16 following disciplinary inquiries under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (PEDA) Act over the past year.
The inquiries, conducted from March 2024 to January 31, 2025, resulted in various actions against teaching and non-teaching staff.
According to official data, 263 employees were found guilty and dismissed from service, 11 were forced into early retirement, and six were immediately terminated.
Additionally, six employees had their service tenure revoked, while 35 were fined an amount equivalent to one month’s salary.
Furthermore, 24 employees faced frozen annual increments, 107 were issued substantial fines, and 201 were given final warnings. Meanwhile, 228 employees were exonerated.
The year 2024 turned out to be extremely “disappointing” and “educationally disastrous” for the Punjab Education Department in terms of controversial policies, especially privatisation.
Teachers and non-teaching staff remained on continuous strikes against the government’s academic policies. Record holidays in educational institutions were also recorded last year.
The year also witnessed an alarming rise in the sale of government schools, mass dismissals of teachers, and rationalisation.
News published in the Express Tribune on 9th February 2025
