The Punjab government is set to merge three departments — the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB), Quaid-i-Azam Academy for Educational Development (QAED), and Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) — into a single organization aimed at driving significant improvements in education quality.
However, there is skepticism among staff members regarding this move, fearing widespread layoffs.
A five-member committee has been established by the government to oversee the integration process, focusing on curriculum development, teacher training, and assessment frameworks, according to a notification issued by the Punjab School Education Department (SED) on April 26.
The notification specifies that the SED special secretary will serve as the committee’s convener, with other members including the managing director of PCTB, director general of QAED, CEO of PEC, and any other required member.
The committee’s tasks include delineating the roles and responsibilities of PEC, PCTB, and QAED, identifying duplicated functions among the departments, restructuring roles and responsibilities, conducting consultations with stakeholders, exploring international best practices for adoption, recommending integration strategies, and outlining pros and cons along with proposed timelines.
Additionally, the committee is tasked with proposing new legislation or amendments, identifying human resource requirements for the integrated organization while safeguarding the rights of current staff.
The committee is expected to initiate work immediately and complete its tasks within 30 days.
An organizational chart for the integrated entity has been drafted, where the Chief Minister serves as chairperson, the Minister for School Education as vice-chair, and the CEO as the organization’s head, overseeing three managing directors responsible for operations, academics, and inspection.
Speaking anonymously, a department head expressed concerns to Dawn, noting that PCTB is an autonomous body responsible for curriculum formulation, textbook development, and printing, with a substantial budget.
Similarly, PEC handles examination systems, while QAED manages teacher training. The merger plan, devised by an external consultant without departmental input, raises significant risks for existing employees and may not address education quality concerns effectively.
