Only one student clears 9th-grade in Punjab education minister’s village

LAHORE: The recently announced results of the 9th-grade annual examination in Punjab have painted a grim picture of the education sector and public schools’ overall performance.

According to the results, of nearly 380,000 candidates appeared under different boards, only 45 per cent managed to pass, while 55 per cent failed.

Interestingly, the situation was particularly dismal in Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat’s native village, Gulzar Jagir, where 18 students appeared in the exams but only one was declared successful.

The results highlight not only the flaws in the education system but also cast a spotlight on the accountability drive announced by the minister, who has vowed to begin the process from his own constituency.

Data shows that girls outperformed boys, with a pass percentage of 58 per cent compared with 35 per cent for boys.

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The Lahore board reported an overall pass rate of 45.08 per cent, closely aligned with the provincial average.

Faisalabad board recorded 51.55 per cent, while other boards reported similar trends. The results were announced on August 20, 2025, underscoring the urgent need for reforms in the education sector.

Rana Sikandar Hayat, who is currently on an official visit to the United States, issued a strongly worded statement on social media while sharing an analysis of the results.

“For the first time, the school education department is conducting a comprehensive analysis of grades 9 and 10 results. Year after year, we have schools with horrifying results that cost Punjab billions with nearly zero output. We will ensure that such schools are penalised, and staff removed from service. This is my team’s initial working on low-performing schools in Tehsil Pattoki, as per the results announced yesterday. I will begin accountability with schools in my own hometown and constituency,” his statement read.

The minister added that lists of teachers and schools showing good performance are also being prepared, and they will be rewarded accordingly.

The statement comes at a time when his own village, Gulzar Jagir in Tehsil Pattoki, has made headlines for poor performance with only one out of 18 students passing the exam.

Speaking to Urdu News, local journalist Niaz Ahmed from NA-183 Phoolnagar constituency, said: “The schools across the education minister’s constituency have produced dismal results. The minister’s native village, located 22 kilometres from the city, saw only one student pass. This situation is not just disappointing but raises questions: if this is the state of education in the minister’s own area, what must conditions be like in the province’s far-flung regions?”

The poor exam results and the minister’s tough stance have sparked heated debate on social media. While the high failure rate is alarming, the promises of accountability and rewards for performance are being seen as a ray of hope.

The Punjab government maintains that this review will help improve education standards, but the key question remains: will it go beyond statements and bring real change?