CM’s Education Initiative Brings Transformative Changes to Punjab's Schools
Education for Progress – Infrastructure, Training, and Quality Initiatives Introduced
The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, transforming government schools across the state. The “Punjab School Education Reform Initiative” has been aimed at modernizing the education sector and providing quality education to every child in Punjab.
To enhance the skills of teachers and school leaders, the government launched various training programs. Over 200 principals and administrators received advanced training at the Principal Academy and the Institute of Singapore International. Additionally, 150 headmasters underwent leadership and school management training at IIM Ahmedabad, focusing on topics like AI integration in education. Further, 72 educators, including Block Primary Education Officers (BPEOs), Cluster Head Teachers (CHTs), Head Teachers (HTs), and Elementary Teacher Trainers (ETTs), were trained at the University of Turku in Finland, strengthening primary education.
To improve infrastructure and ensure smooth operations in government schools, Rs. 82 crore was allocated for maintenance, cleanliness, and security. The funds facilitated the recruitment of 1,689 campus managers and 1,265 security guards for 689 high and senior secondary schools through PESCO. Cleaning staff were deployed in 8,286 schools, and 1,734 watchmen were recruited for senior secondary schools.
A significant milestone was the development of 118 government schools into state-of-the-art “Schools of Eminence.” The government allocated Rs. 29.3 crore for high-speed fiber WiFi connections across all schools and Rs. 120.43 crore for constructing essential facilities like classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and toilets. An additional Rs. 93.48 crore was dedicated to enhancing classrooms and laboratories.
Students benefited from free uniforms and books distributed at the start of the academic session. To ensure academic excellence, initiatives like the Continuous Education Program (CEP), Mission Samarth, and Mission Arambh were launched. Parent engagement was prioritized through programs like Mega PTM.
For accessibility, the government introduced transport facilities for 118 Schools of Eminence and 17 girls’ senior secondary schools, ensuring that students, especially girls, could attend school without obstacles.
School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains emphasized that the Mann government is committed to delivering quality education. District-level events are being conducted to gather suggestions from teachers and school heads for further improvements.
Through these transformative efforts, the Punjab Government is setting new benchmarks in education, ensuring a bright and progressive future for the state.