LAHORE – Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has come under criticism after remarks he made about government school teachers during a university convocation were widely viewed as disrespectful.
Addressing the convocation ceremony at Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan on June 24, the minister claimed that government school teachers take ceiling fans with them when they leave their schools.
The remarks sparked criticism on social media, with many users accusing the minister of unfairly generalising an entire profession and overlooking the challenges faced by teachers in the public education sector.
Several educators argued that furniture and equipment are often transferred between schools under official departmental directives, particularly during school mergers, staff transfers or administrative changes, and said the minister had ignored this context.
The comments prompted calls from some social media users for an apology, while others demanded the minister’s resignation.
Critics also said the remarks reflected a lack of understanding of the issues confronting government schools, including inadequate infrastructure, poor security and shortages of basic facilities.
