LAHORE: Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced that he will personally teach students in government schools across the province, saying the initiative is aimed at improving educational standards and assessing classroom teaching firsthand.
Speaking in Lahore, the minister said he will begin teaching from the first week of September, initially focusing on English and Chemistry, which he described as his favorite subjects.
“I will start teaching classes in Lahore from the first week of September. English and Chemistry are my favorite subjects, so I will begin with these,” Rana Sikandar Hayat said.
The education minister explained that he would teach English at the primary school level and Chemistry at the high school level, while also planning to teach other subjects in the future.
He said the initiative is intended not only to engage directly with students but also to gain firsthand insight into classroom teaching and the challenges faced by teachers and schools.
Rana Sikandar Hayat further announced that he would visit one government school every week without prior notice to conduct classes.
“I have immense respect for teachers, and I will feel proud to serve as a teacher,” he said, emphasizing the important role educators play in shaping the future of students.
The minister added that teaching in schools himself would allow him to closely monitor the quality of education and identify weaknesses in teaching methods.
According to him, the experience will help the provincial government evaluate the effectiveness of classroom instruction and introduce improvements where needed.
He expressed hope that the initiative would strengthen the education system by encouraging higher teaching standards and greater accountability in government schools.
The announcement comes as the Punjab government continues to pursue reforms in the education sector. In recent months, the provincial administration has introduced several measures aimed at improving the performance of public schools, including decisions regarding the outsourcing of certain government schools and directives to vacate schools operating in dangerous or unsafe buildings.
Rana Sikandar Hayat’s decision to personally teach in classrooms marks an unusual step for a serving provincial education minister and reflects his intention to remain directly connected with the education system at the grassroots level.
Education experts often stress that classroom visits by policymakers can provide valuable insight into the practical challenges faced by teachers and students, including curriculum delivery, student engagement, classroom resources, and school infrastructure.
The minister did not specify which school he would visit first but confirmed that his teaching sessions would begin in Lahore before expanding to other schools. He also indicated that the visits would be conducted without advance notice, allowing him to observe the normal functioning of schools and assess teaching conditions objectively.
By taking on the role of a teacher alongside his ministerial responsibilities, Rana Sikandar Hayat said he hopes to set an example of commitment to education while gaining practical experience that will help shape future education policies in Punjab.
The initiative is expected to draw public attention as schools reopen in September, with many observers likely to watch how the minister’s classroom visits contribute to the government’s broader efforts to improve the quality of education in the province.
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