SMC Policy SED
SMC Policy SED
SO(A-I)3-1/2024
GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB
SCHOOL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Dated Lahore, the 20th January 2025
NOTIFICATION
1. INTRODUCTION:
In pursuance of approval of the Provincial Cabinet in its meeting held on 19.12.2024 and in
exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 3(3) and Second Schedule of the Punjab
Government Rules of Business, 2011, the School Education Department, Government of
Punjab, hereby notifies the “Punjab School Management Councils Policy, 2024” to develop
a framework for implementing a strengthened and an empowered community engagement
structure across Punjab. The innovation seeks to boost support to schools, promote community
engagement, and improve the overall quality of education. The implementation of The Punjab
School Management Councils Policy 2024 is contemplated to be having the potential to effect
transformative change in the public school system in Punjab by fostering a collaborative and
enabled school environment. Through a shared commitment, the members of the School
Management Councils (SMCs), school staff, parents, community, and youth representatives can
ensure a brighter future for all students across the province of Punjab.
Vision: To design a dynamic and accountable public school system in Punjab that guarantees
transformative education to all students, empowering them to become critical thinkers,
responsible citizens, and lifelong learners.
3. CORE PRINCIPLES
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learners’ access to school and their educational growth.
4. SCOPE
This policy applies to all public sector schools operating under the School Education
Department of the Government of Punjab, whether run directly by the government or through
public-private partnerships.
5. DEFINITIONS
a. “CEO” means the Chief Executive Officer of the District Education Authority;
e. “Education Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer (DEA), DEOs, Dy. DEOs and
Assistant Education Officer;
g. “Guardian” means the grandparent, sibling above 18 years of age, uncle or aunt,
stepparent, and adoptive parents or a person/entity declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction;
k. “Parent Member” means a member of the School Management Council (SMC) whose
child is enrolled in the respective school, at the time of his selection, as a condition
precedent to his membership;
o. “School” means a public sector school operating either directly under the department
or through a public-private partnership;
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6. COMPOSITION OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (SMC)
An SMC shall be constituted in each school during the first month of the summer vacation, for
a term of three (3) years.
1) The SMC shall consist of no fewer than ten (10) members, as outlined below:
i. Parent Members: The SMC shall include at least three parent members,
selected from among the parents or guardians of the students enrolled in the
school in the prescribed manner. In a boys’ school, the parent members shall
be limited to fathers or male guardians of the students, while in girls’ schools,
they shall be restricted to mothers or female legal guardians of the students.
ii. Teacher Members: There shall be two teacher members, including the school
head and the senior-most teacher at the respective school, who shall serve as
ex-officio members on the SMC. In the event that there are multiple senior-
most teachers with equivalent seniority, preference shall be given to the teacher
who is older in age.
iii. General Members: There shall be three (03) general members selected from
notable individuals within the local community, preferably including
philanthropists, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce or Anjuman-e-
Tajiran, members of civil society, former academicians, alumni, retired civil
and military personnel.
iv. Special Member: There shall be at least one special member from among the
parents or guardians of the students belonging to any religious minority or
individuals with special needs. Provided where there is no representation of the
minority population or individuals with special needs, one additional parent
member shall be selected to maintain the total number of members on the SMC.
v. Youth Member: There shall be at least one male youth member, for a boys’
school and one female youth member for a girls’ school each having the age
range between 25 and 35 years and preferably having, at least bachelor’s
degree.
vi. Co-opted Member: The SMC may, by consensus, co-opt any individual as a
member as needed. Such a co-opted member shall not possess voting rights.
i. Chairperson: The school head shall serve as the ex-officio Chairperson of the
SMC.
iii. Secretary: The senior-most teacher member of the school shall serve as the
Secretary of the SMC.
3) Preferred Eligibility Criteria for Parent, General, Special, and Youth Members:
The preferred eligibility criteria for the aforementioned categories of the members
of an SMC should include:
i. A genuine passion for education and community development
ii. Minimum academic credentials (Matriculation) for general members only
iii. Proven influence and respect within the local community
iv. Financial stability, being relatively affluent in the area
v. Leadership and management experience
vi. Good communication and interpersonal skills
vii. Familiarity with local education systems and policies
viii. Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
ix. Ability to dedicate time and resources to SMC activities
x. Problem-solving and decision-making skills
xi. Integrity, transparency, and accountability
xii. Experience working with children, youth, or education initiatives
4) Selection Procedure for SMC Membership (Parent, General, Special, and Youth):
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Step 1: Notification and Announcement
The candidates shall submit their applications to the Headteacher of the school
concerned within seven (7) days after the last date of announcement of the vacancies.
Step 3: Eligibility Screening and Shortlisting:
The Selection Committee shall ensure the invitation for an interview to all the
shortlisted candidates and shall:
i. Obtain approval from the next higher authority in the hierarchy (AEO from
DDEO, DDEO from DEO, and DEO(SE) from the CEO of the District
Education Authority concerned).
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(1) The term of the SMC shall be three (3) years. If a vacancy occurs in the SMC with less
than six months remaining in its term, such vacancy shall not be filled, but shall remain
vacant till the expiration of the Council’s term. However, if more than one such
vacancies occur during the Council’s term, these vacancies shall be filled,
notwithstanding the unexpired term of the Council. However, a vacancy shall be filled
if it becomes available due to the following circumstances:
(1) death or resignation of a member;
(2) shifting of residence by a member;
(3) the member’s child is no longer enrolled as a student at any of the public
sector schools;
(4) transfer of teacher member or headteacher to a different school;
(5) removal following three (3) consecutive absences from SMC meetings,
two consecutive proxy attendances, gross misconduct, or conviction from
a competent court of law, provided that the member has been given a fair
opportunity to be heard by the SMC and the removal has received approval
from the relevant Education Officer;
(2) The Secretary of the SMC shall submit a written request to the relevant Education
Officer for any changes in membership. New members shall be selected according to the
prescribed procedure, ensuring that any vacancy is filled by a replacement from the same
category and in the same manner as provided by the policy.
(3) Following the selection of new member(s), a notification of the SMC with the
revised composition shall be issued and disseminated to all concerned stakeholders.
The SMC shall conduct its business in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Schedule-1.
(1) Oversee the operations of the school: In order to supervise the operational functions
of the school, the SMC shall:
i. encourage the teachers and students to maintain regular attendance and
punctuality;
ii. work for inclusivity and diversity, particularly concerning children with
special needs and those from minority communities;
iii. work with local health authorities for health screening of the students in
provision of aids like hearing equipment and glasses, etc.
iv. ensure that no child is subjected to corporal punishment or any form of mental
or physical harassment;
v. plan or arrange for the repair and maintenance of furniture, fixtures,
infrastructure, and playgrounds;
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vi. strive for an environment in school which ensures that character development
remains a fundamental objective of all school activities;
vii. ensure the sustainability of existing plants and active participation in new
planting initiatives;
viii. address the emergent needs of the school as required during unforeseen
incidents, including fire outbreaks, earthquakes, floods and heavy rains;
(2) Ensuring Quality Education:
i. If SMC agrees by consensus, or near-consensus, that a teacher’s performance is not
up to the mark, then the SMC may refer the case of such teacher to DEA for further
disciplinary action.
ii. Recommending awards for high performing teachers;
d) Additional Responsibilities:
i. Ensure maintenance of records of all civil works projects.
ii. Coordinate with SMCs and other stakeholders.
iii. Ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process.
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iv. Report any irregularities or discrepancies to the DEA.
The engineering staff shall perform these duties following the Department and DEA
guidelines, and shall be accountable for ensuring that civil works are executed efficiently,
effectively, and in accordance with approved plans and specifications.
(7) Hiring of Community Teachers:
The hiring of the teachers shall be done as outlined in Schedule-III.
(8) Dispute Resolution Committees and their Function:
In the event of a disagreement among SMC members concerning school matters, the
issue shall be referred to Dispute Resolution Committee for arbitration and resolution. The
committee shall take no more than fifteen (15) days to decide the matter. The Convener of
the Dispute Resolution Committee for primary and elementary schools shall be the Deputy
District Education Officer (DDEO), and for secondary & higher secondary schools the
District Education Officer (DEO-SE). The other members shall remain unchanged across
two Dispute Resolution Committees.
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make necessary amendments in these policy guidelines through publication in the
official gazette, provided such amendments are consistent with the objectives and
purposes of the Policy.
(15) REMOVAL OF DIFFICULTIES
1) The Department may, by order not inconsistent with the policy, provide for
the removal of any difficulties arising in the implementation of the Policy.
2) Subject to sub- section (1), where the Policy requires any actions but lacks
specific provisions regarding the implementing authority or procedure for
execution, such actions shall be carried out by designated officers or persons
in accordance with directives issued by the Department via notifications.
(16) REPEAL OF PREVIOUS POLICY NOTIFICATIONS
All prior policies, rules, or notifications related to SMCs are hereby repealed.
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SCHEDULE – I
CONDUCT O BUSINESS
[See Para 10]
A. CONDUCT OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE SMCs:
(i). The School Head, in his/her capacity of Chairperson, will chair the meetings of
the SMC and ensure orderly conduct.
(ii). The first meeting of the SMC shall be held within one week after issuance of the
notification.
(iii). The first business in the first meeting will be to elect its Vice-Chairperson from
among the Parent Members with a majority vote.
(iv). The SMC will meet once every quarter. However, the Chairperson/Vice-
Chairperson/Secretary may summon a special meeting as and when needed.
(v). The date, time, and agenda of regular meetings will be communicated to all
members at least 3 days before the meeting. In case of special meetings, the date,
time, and agenda will be communicated 24 hours before the meeting.
(vi). The venue of all meetings will be the concerned school.
(vii). In exceptional circumstances, a member may designate another member, except
for the School Head, to act as his/her proxy with written authorization. A proxy
cannot, however, represent more than one absent member.
(viii). No member of the SMC will be entitled to any compensation for his/her attendance
at the meetings.
B. QUORUM OF THE SMC AND DECISIONS
(i). A simple majority of the voting members of the SMC, including the
Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and the Secretary, will constitute a quorum for
the conduct of official business.
(ii). All major decisions, including those about infrastructure development,
procurement of goods or services, hiring of staff, and spending of funds will
require a simple majority of voting members present and voting for a particular
proposition.
(iii). No decision or proceedings of the SMC will be invalidated on account of any
vacancy or absence among the members of the SMC as long as the quorum is
achieved.
(iv). Voting on any motion will be by a show of hands. In case of a tie vote, the
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Chairperson will have the deciding vote.
C. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
(i). The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining accurate minutes of all
meetings in Karwai Register.
(ii). The record of minutes, as well as the pictures, will also be maintained in the
School as well as uploaded to the School Information System (SIS).
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SCHEDULE - II
FINANCIAL PROCEDURES
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handles, etc.
(d) Furniture, fittings and fixtures;
(e) Teaching and learning materials, e.g., books, stationery
items, chart papers, notebooks, lab equipment;
(f) Books, newspapers, and magazines for the library.
(g) School operational costs and utility bills;
(h) Purchase of sports equipment;
(i) Organizing co-curricular and sports activities;
(j) Salary for the community teachers;
(k) Photocopying of essential material, with due record;
(l) Serving of light refreshments in the SMC meetings;
(m) Plantation of grass, plants, and trees;
(n) Expenditure on examinations, printing of question
papers, and purchasing answer sheets;
(o) Provision of internet facility;
(p) Awards for high-performing teachers and students;
(q) Provision of uniform and stationery items for needy
students; and
(r) Any other purpose as decided by the SMC and duly
approved by the DEA.
(ii). School funds will not be utilized for activities already being funded by other
agencies, departments, or any other sources.
C. MANNER OF UTILIZATION OF FUNDS
(i). Joint operation of School SMC bank account by the Head teacher and the Vice-
Chairperson.
(ii). Per annum spending of up to twenty-five lac (Rs.2.5 Million) for undertaking
civil works only in each Public School; however, the SMC can spend funds for
other purposes as per requirement and availability of the funds.
(iii). Expenditure will be approved by the SMC and expended transparently and
economically.
(iv). The head teacher will be the Principal Accounting Officer and responsible for
maintaining accounts and receipts of works done/procurements made.
(v). The SMCs shall be exempted from the Government financial rules / purchase,
procedures and PPRA rules and shall be empowered to undertake market-based
expenditures.
(vi). Exemption from audit, PPRA Rules, GST, Income Tax, PST etc on any
purchase / procurement of goods / services / civil works from any kind of source
of funding upto twenty-five lac (Rs.2.5 Million).
(vii). The audit of the non-governmental funds (like donations, Farogh-e-Taleem
fund, funds from donor agencies, funds raised through innovative financial
models etc.) of the educational institutions used through SMCs do not fall under
the jurisdiction of audit to be conducted by Auditor General of Pakistan.
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D. MECHANISM FOR FINANCIAL AUDIT:
To ensure financial transparency in the School Management Councils (SMCs), a three-tier
audit mechanism shall be established at the school, district, and departmental levels,
respectively. This mechanism aims to ensure transparency in the utilization of funds and
maintenance of fiscal integrity across all SMCs in the province.
Pursuant to its constitution, the School Management Council (SMC) shall establish
an Internal Audit Committee (IAC) within seven days. The committee shall
comprise five (5) members, including the SMC Chairperson, one teacher
representative, one parent representative, one general member, and one youth
member, collectively responsible for ensuring fiscal transparency and
accountability. The IAC shall be tasked with conducting comprehensive audits of
all financial transactions, both pre and post, furnishing quarterly reports to the SMC,
and submitting an annual audit report to the District Audit Committee.
Pursuant to the SMC Policy 2024, each District Education Authority (DEA) shall
establish a District Audit Committee within 30 days of policy notification. The
composition of said committee is as under:-
To maintain fiscal integrity and oversight, the School Education Department shall
appoint an independent and professional audit firm on an annual basis. This firm
will conduct comprehensive audits of a representative sample of 5-10% of the
province's SMCs, selected randomly, to guarantee compliance with regulatory
requirements and promote transparency.
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SCHEDULE - III
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