Punjab Relaxes Transfer Rules for Special Education Teachers

The Punjab government has revised its transfer policy for teachers and professional staff working in special education institutions, a step officials say will help fill vacant positions, especially in Lahore, after some posts remained unfilled despite interested employees. ProPakistani reported the change on Wednesday, citing official documents.

Under the revised policy, the mandatory three-year tenure requirement may be relaxed when only one eligible candidate is available for a vacant position. The condition can also be waived if a post has remained vacant for at least six months, according to the documents.

The policy change follows a review that found some positions stayed vacant even though employees wanted to transfer. Those employees could not apply because they had not completed the required three-year tenure, the report said.

The revised rules specify that transfers will be made only against available vacant posts. They also state that an employee cannot claim posting at a particular location as a right. Teachers and relevant professional staff will be able to submit transfer applications through the designated e-portal during summer and winter vacations.

Officials said the change is intended to improve staff availability in special education institutions by allowing greater flexibility in filling posts that have remained empty for long periods. The revised policy applies to teachers and professional staff across Punjab's special education system, not to staff in mainstream schools. The new policy does not create new posts; it only allows existing vacancies to be filled more flexibly.

The tenure requirement has not been removed entirely. It continues to apply for routine transfers where more than one eligible candidate is available, and the waiver is limited to the circumstances set out in the revised policy. The change is procedural and does not alter the qualifications required for any post.

The move is aimed at reducing staffing gaps in special education, a sector that has faced unfilled posts in several districts, ProPakistani reported. The e-portal process is intended to make applications easier to track during the two vacation windows.