Punjab Female Officers Left Out Of Promotions

At least 241 eligible female educators within the Punjab School Education Department have reportedly been excluded from promotions from Grade 18 to Grade 19, while 515 male officials were promoted. This issue was also discussed in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, where legislators expressed worry over the significant delay in processing these promotion applications.

Despite numerous requests, the Promotion Selection Board-II recently confirmed and announced promotions for male officers. However, the female educators, who fall within the same cadre and fulfill comparable eligibility standards, remain without finalized promotion decisions. According to sources, the department had previously processed promotion cases for both male and female officers simultaneously, ensuring consistent policy implementation.

This practice seems to have ceased in the current round, leaving numerous female educators in a state of uncertainty without any clarification. Those affected stated that they had completed all necessary formalities, including service duration, performance appraisals, annual performance reports, and administrative clearances. A teacher named Saba Malak mentioned that many female officials, including school principals, had been eligible for promotion for years but are still awaiting approval.

Officials with knowledge of the process noted that delays in verifying seniority lists, disciplinary clearance, and administrative assessments have slowed down these cases. They also mentioned that file movement between departments and approvals from various bodies have created additional roadblocks.