Punjab introduces attendance monitoring system for teachers: Details inside

LAHORE: The Punjab School Education Department (SED) on Friday introduced a new monitoring system to ensure the attendance of teachers in government schools, with the aim of improving the quality of education across the province.

The system focuses on strict adherence to principals’ and teachers’ working hours as part of a broader initiative to raise educational standards and maintain school discipline.

As per the media reports, the SED has directed all school staff to adhere to specific duty hours, which are subject to unannounced inspections by department officials to ensure compliance. The guidelines issued on August 11 emphasized that principals and teachers should remain in school till 2:30 pm. The department has strengthened school timing regulations to streamline operations and ensure smooth running of academic activities.

The SED has circulated these instructions to the Chief Executive Officers of all District Education Authorities (DEAs) in Punjab, stressing the importance of adhering to the already issued schedule.

Teachers are now required to develop lesson plans, engage in professional development, and participate in academic and extracurricular activities during extended school hours and alternate weeks. The department warned that lapses will not be tolerated, and officers are responsible for ensuring full compliance.

Effective August 15, updated school hours for single-shift schools are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Friday, 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Double shift schools will observe different timings for morning and afternoon shifts. Teachers’ hours will be slightly increased to accommodate school activities.

In other news, the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) has completed the first round of interviews for the posts of Directorate of Public Instruction (Colleges), Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and District Education Authority (DEA). Around 120 candidates were evaluated on their management, communication, IT, leadership and other skills during the interview process.