School teachers across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will soon be required to obtain a licence to continue teaching, the provincial Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced on Tuesday.
The move follows Sindh, which last year became the first province to introduce a teaching licence policy. The initiative aims to raise professional standards in classrooms and ensure students are taught by qualified educators.
Pakistan faces a deep education crisis, with over 26 million children out of school — one of the highest figures globally. Officials say improving teaching quality is central to reversing poor outcomes.
According to a notification issued by the department, only registered and licensed teachers will be authorised to teach. A new regulatory body will be established to issue and renew licences, which will depend on teacher performance.
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The 15-member body will be tasked with developing a standardised licensing framework, setting professional benchmarks, and carrying out routine performance evaluations. The provincial government has allocated Rs200 million for its establishment.
Authorities believe the system will enhance classroom learning and ensure that teachers remain accountable to set standards. The aim is to move towards a more structured and professional teaching workforce, aligning with international best practices.
The urgency of reform is highlighted by the District Education Performance Index (DEPIx) 2020-23, which placed Pakistan in the “low” performance category with an average score of 53.46. Officials hope that introducing teacher licensing will help lift these indicators over time.