Punjab Orders Recovery of Excess Payments Made to School Teacher Interns
The Punjab Education Department has directed the recovery of additional stipend amounts mistakenly paid to thousands of school teacher interns during May 2026.
According to official instructions, the overpayment occurred due to a system processing error affecting around 30,000 to 35,000 temporary and daily-wage teachers across the province.
Reason for Overpayment
Teacher interns received higher-than-expected payments in their accounts during the summer vacation period. However, the department later clarified that the stipend was incorrectly processed for the full month of May.
Under the approved schedule, schoolteacher interns were entitled to payment only until May 21, 2026, as summer vacations began on May 22. Due to an administrative error, payments were also issued for the remaining days of the month.
Department’s Instructions
In an official letter, the department directed all relevant offices to recover the excess amount and deposit it into the government treasury by June 15, 2026.
Officials stated that the recovery applies only to the additional 10 days’ stipend that was paid in error.
Reaction from Teachers
Many affected teachers have expressed concern over the decision, saying the extra payments had already been used to cover household and Eid-related expenses. They also noted that the error was not caused by them.
The situation has created financial difficulties for some interns, who are now seeking clarification and possible relief from the authorities.
Conclusion
The Education Department has reiterated that the action is part of routine financial correction procedures and is necessary to ensure accuracy in public fund disbursement.
