Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announces reforms for education sector in the state

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday proposed the implementation of multifaceted changes in the sector, describing education as the foundation for constructing a new society. He said that the state's public schools would be changed into "schools of eminence." The government is dedicated to establishing cutting-edge public schools and regulating tuition at private institutions in order to guarantee that children receive an affordable, high-quality education, he said.

"The NoC (No Objection Certificate) of schools found violating the Fee Act, 2016, will be cancelled and a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed," he said. Mann was speaking in the state assembly, winding up discussion on the Governor's address. He said focus will also be laid on quality education in colleges and universities and that lecturers in colleges and universities will be granted UGC pay scales. The chief minister also said the government is setting up 19 new industrial training institutes to provide quality technical education. As per the demand of the industry, 44 new courses are under consideration to be introduced in various Industrial Training Institutes, he added.

According to Mann, the state government has already begun the process of hiring 5,994 elementary trained teachers and 8,393 pre-primary teachers to fill open positions. He declared that going forward, teachers would be assigned to core teaching duties and that a distinct cadre would be established for non-teaching jobs. The chief minister emphasised the significance of modernising teacher training procedures by announcing that best practises from all around the nation and the globe would be taken into account. The teachers will receive training from the state's department of education, which will work with the US Embassy's Regional English Language Office in New Delhi.

He said that NRIs can contribute 50% to the building of infrastructure, such as schools, community centres, hospitals, latrines, lighting, sports arenas, and other projects, with the state government investing the remaining 50%.