PEIMA Revokes Licenses of 1,600 Partner Schools Across Punjab

The Punjab Education Initiative Management Authority (PEIMA) has recently taken a major step by revoking the licenses of more than 1,600 partner schools across the province. According to a report by 24NewsHD TV channel, the move comes in light of newly introduced conditions for continuing partnerships under PEIMA's education model.

This development has sparked significant concern among education stakeholders, especially non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individual partners who had invested heavily in these school operations.

Background: What Led to the Revocations?

According to sources, PEIMA implemented new criteria for school operations and licensing. Many existing schools, previously contracted under a three-year term, failed to meet these updated conditions.

Key Reasons for License Cancellations:

• Introduction of stricter operational criteria
• End of existing three-year contracts
• Reevaluation based on performance and infrastructure
• Lack of merit-based compliance under new standards

Who is Affected?

A large portion of the revoked licenses were held by NGOs and individual education partners, many of whom had developed schools in underserved areas with their own funding.

Table: Overview of Affected Schools

Reactions from the Ground

Statement by Sadaqat Hussain Khan Lodhi

Provincial Convener of PEIMA School Licensees

“Licensees have invested millions of rupees into these schools. Revoking licenses without due process or consideration, especially at the end of a contract period, is deeply unfair.”

Lodhi emphasized that any attempt to allocate school licenses based on political grounds rather than merit will be unacceptable. He called on PEIMA to review and reverse the decision.

PEIMA Invites Fresh Applications

Despite the backlash, PEIMA has moved forward with an official invitation for fresh applications for school re-contracting.

Application Details:

• Application Deadline: May 10, 2025
• Application Fee: Rs. 10,000
• Mode: As per PEIMA's official portal or regional offices
• Eligibility: Must fulfill new operational and infrastructural guidelines

New Licensing Conditions: What Has Changed?

PEIMA has introduced new conditions that applicants must meet to be eligible for licensing or renewal.

New Requirements:

• Updated infrastructure compliance
• Verified student enrollment data
• Qualified and certified teaching staff
• Enhanced monitoring and performance metrics
• Digital record keeping of school operations

Concerns Raised by Stakeholders

Major Concerns:

• Sudden policy shift without adequate transition period
• Risk of school closures in rural areas
• Loss of investments made by licensees
• Potential for political favoritism in new allocations

Education activists argue that canceling licenses without giving partners a chance to comply with updated guidelines undermines the public-private partnership model.

Recommendations by Affected Partners

Demands from School Licensees:

• Immediate restoration of licenses pending review
• Fair re-evaluation based on past performance
• More transparent communication from PEIMA
• Avoidance of any political interference in future school allocations

The Way Forward for PEIMA and Education in Punjab

This move could have wide-reaching impacts on access to education, especially in remote areas where partner schools operate under PEIMA’s support. While maintaining quality is essential, many argue that partner schools must be given a fair opportunity to meet the revised requirements.

A Balanced Approach Should Include:

• Transitional support for existing licensees
• Clear and achievable timelines for meeting new conditions
• Transparent and merit-based application process
• Stakeholder consultations for future policy updates

The cancellation of over 1,600 school licenses by PEIMA is a significant shake-up in Punjab's education landscape. While ensuring accountability and quality in education is vital, it’s equally important to maintain fairness and continuity for those already serving communities.

The next few weeks will be crucial as PEIMA reviews fresh applications and potentially responds to calls for reconsideration. All eyes remain on how the authority balances quality assurance with equity and justice for its education partners.