Chandigarh, April 24: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has declared that Punjab’s “Shikhya Kranti” is entering a new phase through a strategic collaboration with Finland’s University of Turku, aimed at modernizing teacher development. During an interaction at the Turku Teacher Training School, the Chief Minister stated that the program is moving the state’s education system toward research-driven, inclusive practices.
Under the current framework, teachers are encouraged to design context-specific projects supported by mentors from Finland. This structured pathway is designed to ensure that global best practices are adapted to fit the needs of local students. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed that close to 300 teachers will have undergone training by May 2026, providing a pool of experts to lead the transition toward more active student engagement.
The program has focused on equipping teachers with research-driven methods while ensuring these approaches are adapted to Punjab’s socio-cultural context, Mann stated. He affirmed that educators have reported greater confidence in experimenting with new techniques and addressing diverse learning needs within their classrooms. The Chief Minister also noted that continuous mentoring from Finnish experts has been vital in supporting this transition.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the Punjab government is shifting toward a train-the-trainers approach. This model aims to create a self-sustaining cycle of professional development that does not rely solely on external interventions. The Chief Minister maintained that the government intends to use digital platforms to provide wider access to these advanced teaching methodologies.
The initiative is already yielding results, the Chief Minister declared, pointing to improved student participation and a shift away from traditional memorization-based schooling. He stated that the partnership represents a long-term institutional effort to provide high-quality public education, asserting that the state will continue to pursue similar global initiatives to maintain the momentum of its educational reforms.
