Chandigarh: Presenting the four-and-a-half-year status report of school education, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the Bhagwant Mann government has transformed the state’s education system through a ₹2,300 crore reform programme. He claimed that Punjab has surpassed Kerala to emerge as the top-performing state in school education in the NITI Aayog Report 2026-27.
3.64 Lakh Students Move From Private to Government Schools
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Tuesday, Bains said 3.64 lakh students have shifted from private schools to government schools since 2022. He said the trend reflects growing public confidence in government schools and attributed the change to the state government’s sustained focus on improving school infrastructure and the quality of education.
From Poor Infrastructure to Major School Upgrades
Recalling the condition of Punjab’s education system in 2022, Bains said many schools lacked basic facilities. A large number of schools did not have boundary walls, more than 5,000 schools lacked functional toilets, around four lakh children had to sit on the floor, nearly 500 schools had no drinking water and textbooks were often delivered several months late.
He said the Bhagwant Mann government has invested ₹2,300 crore in school infrastructure over the past four-and-a-half years, averaging around ₹15 lakh per school. As part of the transformation, 13,920 new toilets have been constructed and all government schools now have functional toilets. Around two lakh desks have also been provided, ensuring that students no longer have to sit on the floor.
9,000 New Classrooms and Labs, Wi-Fi in All Schools
Bains said more than 9,000 new classrooms and laboratories have been constructed, while over 10,000 interactive panels have been installed in classrooms. In addition, 5,012 schools have been upgraded with advanced computer labs, while all government schools in Punjab have now been equipped with Wi-Fi facilities.
Highlighting the pace of construction, the minister said the government had built around 9,000 classrooms and urged people to calculate how many classrooms were constructed each day during the period.
Government Schools Get World-Class Sports Facilities
The minister said government schools are now being equipped with sports facilities that were previously associated mainly with private institutions. These include swimming pools, shooting ranges, basketball and tennis courts, Kabaddi mats, and wrestling and boxing rings.
Teachers Receive Training in India and Abroad
Bains also highlighted the government’s focus on teacher training. Over multiple batches, school principals were sent to Singapore, primary teachers to Finland and headmasters to IIM Ahmedabad for professional training and exposure.
Security and Maintenance Strengthened
To improve security and school management, ex-Army personnel have been deployed as campus managers in all senior secondary schools. Two security guards have also been posted at senior secondary schools with more than 500 students.
The government has additionally introduced monthly cleaning funds ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹50,000 for schools, depending on their student strength.
Government School Students Make Gains in JEE and NEET
Bains said academic outcomes have also improved, with 786 government school students qualifying for JEE and 2,166 cracking NEET over the last four years.
According to the minister, NEET-UG qualifiers from government schools increased from just 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026. The number stood at 437 in 2024 and rose to 847 in 2025 before reaching 882 this year. He also said 361 students qualified for JEE Mains, while 64 students cleared JEE Advanced.
Punjab Tops NITI Aayog Learning Outcomes Ranking
Highlighting the state’s academic performance, Bains said Punjab topped the NITI Aayog Report 2026-27 in classroom learning outcomes, surpassing Kerala, which has traditionally been regarded as a leading state in school education.
AI Introduced From Class I to XII
The minister said Punjab has become the first state to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a core subject from Class I to Class XII. He also highlighted the Business Blasters programme, under which 2.30 lakh students received practical business exposure.
The government provided ₹29 crore as seed money through the programme, while students collectively earned ₹3 crore in profits, Bains said.
40 Skill Education Schools for Students Who Dropped Out
The Bhagwant Mann government has also opened 40 dedicated skill education schools for students who dropped out after Class 10. The initiative aims to bring such students back into the education system while providing them with practical and vocational skills.
School Fee Hike Capped at 5 Per Cent
Addressing the financial burden on families, Bains said the government has capped annual school fee increases at a maximum of 5 per cent. He said the measure was aimed at providing relief to parents amid rising education costs.
Free Bus Services for Government School Students
Punjab has also introduced free bus services for government school students. According to Bains, the facility benefits more than 15,000 students every day across hundreds of schools, improving access to education for students who face transportation challenges.
500 Flood-Damaged Schools Being Restored
Bains said the government continued its education initiatives despite two major floods in 2023 and 2025, which damaged more than 7,000 schools in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ropar, Ferozepur and Fazilka.
In collaboration with the World Bank, 500 severely damaged schools are being restored, with most of the work expected to be completed within six months, he said.
‘Not One School Will Lack Anything’ in Two Years
Emphasising his commitment to further improving Punjab’s school education system, Bains said he has personally visited more than 2,000 schools across the state.
“Education is my passion, this is my obsession. There are 20,000 schools in Punjab and I am on a mission. In two years, Punjab will be the first state to say that not one school lacks anything. For us, education is the top priority,” he said.
