Chandigarh, 12 July
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior leader and Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains strongly criticized previous Congress and Akali-BJP governments for neglecting the state’s education system and stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the AAP government has taken historic steps in the past three and a half years to strengthen the education system of the state.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Minister Bains said that during previous regimes, the condition of government schools was extremely poor. Children were forced to sit on the floor. But after the AAP government came to power in 2022, we have transformed the condition of government schools. Along with building new classrooms, we introduced modern laboratories, security guards, campus managers, and transport services. From the timely supply of uniforms and books to the launch of Schools of Eminence, numerous reforms were undertaken. Teachers were sent abroad for world-class training, and exposure visits were organized for students.
Minister Bains further stated that the government is giving priority to strengthening the base of learning. Teachers are being encouraged without any pressure to provide students with a strong academic base. The aim of the government is to ensure that every child progresses with confidence and quality.
He further added that under ‘Mission Samarth’, children who were weak in reading, writing, or mathematics according to their grade level were identified. This mission was implemented effectively, and the results are now visible in the National Assessment Survey conducted by the Government of India, where Punjab has secured the first position across the country.
Bains said that Punjab not only achieved the first position but also broke all its previous records. Especially, students of class three achieved a historic score of 80 out of 100, while the national average remained between 60–65.
The national survey revealed that Punjab’s government schools outperformed the state’s private schools and even the central government’s educational institutions. The selection of schools for the survey was done by the Government of India, yet the performance of Punjab’s government schools remained the best.
Bains said that earlier, negative news related to the education department used to make headlines, but today, the same department has become an example across the country. He credited this transformation to over one lakh government teachers in Punjab, non-teaching staff, mid-day meal workers, security guards, and former and current officers.
He added that this mission is ongoing. The goal of improving 20,000 schools in the state is still ahead. This success of the AAP government is a major milestone that has now been officially recorded in the Government of India’s national survey.