Punjab govt to recruit transgender teachers

LAHORE: The Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Department has taken the lead in employing transgender individuals who are matric or higher as teachers in the newly established adult education centers throughout Punjab.

The campaign comes under the umbrella of ‘Read, Write, Develop’ to promote literacy in the province and plans to set up 180 centers in total, five in every district including Rawalpindi.

It also invites applications for male and female teachers, offering a salary of Rs12,500 per month. This has, however, raised issues of how good quality teachers will be sustained and the level of education achieved.

The deadline for applications for the position has been set for November 30, and those transgenders within the age limits of 18 to 55 are also encouraged to apply. Each of these centers will admit a maximum of 25 to 30 learners, who will be taught very basic skills such as reading and writing.

At the end of a given period of three months, participants will be issued certificates of accomplishment. The department will also implement projects of this kind in the prisons of Punjab.

Two centers in each of the 39 jails will facilitate the training of literate prisoners to teach others in the prison, thereby encouraging education in the prisons.

The officials also explained that the intervention was geared towards promoting education for all, especially for transgender individuals while at the same time seeking to eradicate literacy challenges faced by the minority communities. The initiative is anti-poverty through promoting employability and education and hopes to make an impact in the entire province.