LAHORE: The Punjab School Education Department on Friday faced severe backlash after appointing members of provincial assembly (MPAs) as district education ambassadors.

The decision, intended to enhance educational oversight and development, was met with widespread criticism from educators and the public alike. As a result, the department had to withdraw the appointments on the same day.

The SED issued a notification (a copy available with Dawn) and appointed 36 MPAs from their respective districts as the education ambassadors on Friday. They were tasked with overseeing the chief minister initiatives to play a role for promotion of education, point out shortcomings in ongoing initiatives, if any, and bring into the notices of the CEOs of district education authorities. They would also highlight public issues pertaining to education to the education CEOs. The ambassadors would have to hold meetings with the CEOs, coordinate with them and bring the issues into their notices of CEOs as well as that of secretary SED. They would develop strategic plans to promote education, identify potential partners and develop initiatives. They would also have to contribute to the development of high quality education system.

Critics argued that the appointments were politically motivated and lacked transparency, raising concerns about potential political interference in the educational matters. Social media platforms were abuzz with disapproval, with many users expressing their dissatisfaction and calling for the decision to be reversed.

In response to the mounting criticism, the Punjab School Education Department decided to withdraw the appointments on the same day on Friday.

A spokesperson for the department stated, “We have listened to the feedback from the public and stakeholders. Our primary goal is to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for our students, and we will continue to seek ways to achieve this without compromising on transparency and integrity.”

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the role of political figures in educational administration and the importance of merit-based appointments to ensure effective management of the education system.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2025