After the recent reversal of hospital outsourcing, the Punjab government has now begun rolling back the outsourcing of schools, starting with Dera Ghazi Khan where 59 outsourced schools are being taken back due to months of non-functionality.

According to an official letter written by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the District Education Authority (DEA) to the Secretary of School Education, these 59 schools never became operational under the outsourcing model. In many cases, the license holders failed to take charge, leaving the schools locked and inactive. In other areas, local disputes, conflict within communities, and ongoing litigation prevented the schools from being handed over to private operators.

The CEO said that this prolonged disruption caused serious academic loss for children who had no access to regular classes during this period. The letter stressed that these schools were functioning smoothly under the DEA before outsourcing, and their closure had directly affected attendance, learning outcomes, and community trust.

The DEA has therefore requested that all 59 schools be permanently restored to direct government control. Bringing these institutions back under the DEA, the CEO noted, will help stabilize the education system, ensure continuity in teaching, and allow effective monitoring at the local level.

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Officials argue that reversing outsourcing in this case will prevent further academic damage and help rebuild confidence among parents and students. The request marks another major retreat from outsourcing policies in Punjab’s social sector, following the recent government decision to reclaim outsourced hospitals.