Punjab govt to convert all school to solar energy

LAHORE: The Punjab Department of School Education has announced plans to convert all higher and secondary schools across the province to solar energy.

Officials have requested updated data on schools that have already been switched to solar power. Currently, Punjab has 861 operational higher and secondary schools, including 21 in Lahore, of which only four have been converted to solar energy so far.

A formal directive from the education department has asked school administrators to submit complete information regarding the schools scheduled for solar conversion by June 30, 2025.

Sources revealed that some institutions have independently adopted solar energy solutions without government support. The notification also warned that school principals who fail to submit the required data could face disciplinary action.

Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali stated that the initiative to switch schools to solar energy has been ongoing for the past five years. However, due to limited financial resources, some schools have had to install solar systems through self-funding efforts.

He further noted that in certain cases, school administrators collected Rs 15,000 from teachers to purchase solar panels. Rana Liaquat Ali urged the government to ensure that all schools in the province receive solar panels free of cost, emphasizing the need for equitable support in implementing renewable energy solutions.