Mann presents education report card, highlights Punjab’s top rank in nat’l survey

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann highlighted Punjab's top rank in the Grade 9 category in National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2024, as he presented AAP govt's four-year report card in the education sector.Addressing a press conference, Mann said Punjab surpassed even Kerala and Chandigarh, while Gujarat ranked 16th and Haryana 7th or 8th. He highlighted increased budget allocation, teacher recruitment and infrastructure upgrades. Mann said the education budget had risen from Rs 12,657 crore in 2021–22 to Rs 19,279 crore in 2026–27. He claimed govt schools in Punjab had now been developed on a par with private schools, giving parents a real choice.From April 1, he said, parents would be informed if their child was absent from school and would also receive updates about teachers' leave, a move to improve accountability.The CM also said Punjab had not witnessed a single paper leak in four years and alleged that previous govts had reduced schools to centres for mid-day meals without focusing on quality education or staffing.Calling education the biggest driver of social and economic progress, Mann said the state was entering the second phase of its "education revolution" with an outlay of Rs 3,500 crore, with support from the World Bank. He said 740 students had cleared JEE and 1,284 had qualified NEET in recent years, while govt school students had scored 18% above the national average in the survey.Mann said 118 Schools of Eminence were being set up, of which 60 were already functional. He also claimed that nearly 24 lakh parents had taken part in mega parent-teacher meetings.Highlighting outreach and access measures, the CM said free bus service had been introduced for girls studying in Schools of Eminence and other govt schools, benefiting around 15,500 students.He added that since April 2022, the state had recruited 14,525 teachers and regularised services of 12,316 education department employees. He also spoke of teacher training, a school mentorship programme involving senior officers, the Digital Open University Policy-2026, and plans for a university at Anandpur Sahib in the name of Guru Tegh BahadurBOXStepping up to the plateGovt efforts | State's education budget up to Rs 19,279 crore, 14,525 teachers recruited since April 2022, and 12,316 staff regularisedStudent outcomes | 740 students have cleared JEE and another 1,284 have qualified NEET. Govt school students scored 18% above nat'l averageInfra & reforms | 118 Schools of Eminence planned, with 60 of them already operational. Govt has okayed Rs 3,500 crore for second phase of reforms‘Bridging govt-private school gap'We are bringing the quality of education in govt schools on a par with private institutions so that parents have a genuine choice. Then it will be up to the parents to decide where they want to send their child to study. Education in govt schools will be much cheaper. Parents should not be compelled to opt for costly private schoolsBhagwant Singh Mann | Punjab CM