Fact-check: Is Rawalpindi forcing teachers to enrol children in public schools?
An alleged letter circulating on social media suggests that an education authority in the Rawalpindi district has directed its officials to ensure their children attend public schools instead of private ones.
While some online users believe the letter to be genuine, others have questioned its authenticity.
The claim is misleading. The letter was indeed issued, although much of the online debate overlooks important context.
Claim
A purported notification circulating online, dated April 22 and issued by the District Education Authority (DEA) in Rawalpindi, appears to show that DEA officers and teachers have been instructed not to enrol their children in private schools.
“The infrastructure and quality of education in government schools have been greatly improved due to the presence of highly qualified and trained teachers,” the notification reads.
It further directs all controlling authorities to ensure that the children of education department employees in Rawalpindi are enrolled in government schools.
Fact
Three government officials with knowledge of the matter confirmed the letter’s authenticity. However, they emphasised that the directive is not binding and should be seen only as an advisory.
The letter is signed by Aman Ullah Khan, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the District Education Authority in Rawalpindi, who confirmed to Geo Fact Check that it was indeed issued on April 22.
“The [directions given in the letter] are simply advice provided to officers, teachers, and officials of the School Education Department in Rawalpindi to enhance the school enrollment campaign,” Khan said over the phone. “The teachers [and other officials] are not bound by this. It is mere advice.”
He added that there will be no consequences for those who choose not to enrol their children in public schools.
This was also confirmed by Noor ul Huda, the public relations officer for the Punjab education minister, who described the letter as an advisory issued by the Rawalpindi education department.
“This is not an official decision, and it is merely an advisory,” Huda said. “It reflects the CEO Rawalpindi’s vision to make the district a model for increasing enrollment in public schools.”
He stressed that there is no element of coercion in this initiative. No action will be taken against those who opt not to enroll their children in government schools. The advisory is simply a request aimed at rebuilding public trust in the education system and improving the impact of the enrollment campaign, he added.
Geo Fact Check also spoke with Punjab’s Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat who clarified that no such notification has been issued at the departmental level.
“Yes, I enrolled my son on my own [in a public school],” he said, adding that there is no official directive from the provincial government, and the district education authority likely acted independently.
“[For such directions] a constitutional amendment is required,” Hayat explained. “We do not own this letter and we will not be implementing it.”
Hassan Waqar Cheema, the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi district, to whose office the letter was reportedly sent, told Geo Fact Check that while the letter has not yet been officially received, it has been issued.
“The directive has been issued by the CEO of the District Education Authority, Rawalpindi, without consultation,” Cheema said. “In this case, it seems more like a proactive initiative highlighting improvements in Punjab’s education quality rather than a binding directive.”
Verdict: The notification circulating on social media is authentic, but it is not an official directive. It is an advisory issued by the CEO of Rawalpindi’s District Education Authority.
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