Punjab Exempts 300,000 Teachers From Polio Campaign Duties

Published On: January 22, 2026

The Punjab government has announced a major relief measure for teachers across the province, exempting them from polio vaccination campaign duties.

Punjab’s Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat confirmed that around 300,000 teachers will no longer be assigned polio-related responsibilities.

Focus to Shift Back to Teaching

Speaking on the decision, the minister said that teachers will now be able to fully concentrate on their academic and classroom responsibilities, without interruptions caused by non-teaching assignments.

He emphasized that the move aims to improve the quality of education by ensuring consistent teaching schedules and reducing administrative burdens on educators.

Long-Standing Demand Addressed

The exemption addresses a long-standing concern raised by teachers’ associations, who had repeatedly highlighted that frequent deployment in vaccination campaigns disrupted academic activities and affected learning outcomes.

Alternative Arrangements for Polio Campaigns

Officials indicated that health department staff and dedicated vaccination teams will handle polio campaign duties going forward, ensuring that public health initiatives continue without relying on school teachers.

The decision is being widely welcomed within the education sector and is expected to positively impact classroom continuity across Punjab.