CHANDIGARH, JUNE 1 — A comprehensive four-year overhaul of public education has propelled Punjab ahead of traditionally high-performing states like Kerala, establishing it as a rising academic center aimed at keeping local talent from moving overseas.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed the success of the state’s ongoing education overhaul during a ceremony in Chandigarh, where he presented cash awards of ₹50,000 and merit certificates to top students. Mann maintained that the improvements have given public school students the tools to excel, pointing to the 359 government school students who qualified for the JEE Main exam this year as clear proof of progress.
“Today, our children don’t hesitate to question even the Chief Minister,” Mann remarked, contrasting the current open environment with previous administrations where direct interactions between students and top officials did not occur.
The Chief Minister urged the gathered students to maintain humility as they advance in their careers. Using an aviation analogy, he noted that the state government is focused on constructing a reliable runway of opportunities to help local youth realize their ambitions and establish clear identities through hard work.
The gathering featured testimonies from local students regarding recent changes. Attendees noted that new initiatives, including the provision of dedicated transport facilities for female students and the installation of modern accessibility features like elevators in select schools, have made daily education significantly more accessible.
Addressing infrastructure milestones, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains confirmed that the state has successfully resolved past seating shortages, ensuring no student is forced to sit on the floor during lessons. He noted that the state’s public schools now regularly secure top positions in national sector assessments, including evaluations conducted by NITI Aayog.
The event also included discussions on broader educational policy. Visiting official Manish Sisodia criticized the country’s current testing structures, stating that evaluation methods must adapt to the requirements of 21st-century learners by focusing on comprehensive personality development rather than rigid testing formats.
