Study Guides banned by Punjab School Education Department

The Punjab School Education Department (SED) has banned private publishers' study guides from all public schools in the province.

The department made note of the key-books or guides that were being utilised to teach students in the schools. The Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board allowed books were to be used, according to the department (PCTB). All public schools in the province received free syllabus books from the board.

The SED had ordered that no private publisher's guide or helping book be taught in schools, and that if the instructions were not followed, action would be taken against the [school] heads. According to reports, publishers pay teachers a 'commission' for suggesting such publications.

The SED further stated that additional security measures be implemented promptly for the safety of schools and students, and that CCTV cameras be activated via internet connection, and that physical punishment of pupils be completely forbidden in all public and private institutions.

Muddassir Leghari, a school teacher, stated that both teachers and pupils will benefit from these reference books. "All of the problems were answered in these guides, and neither teachers nor students had to undertake any activities to solve them," he explained.

Leghari claimed that authorities and monitoring teams had confiscated the aid books from students and teachers on several occasions and ordered that they not be carried in schools.