Chandigarh, 03 August (H.S.): Punjab Chief Minister

Bhagwant Singh Mann has said that the state has surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra

and Delhi to secure the number one position in primary and middle-school

education.

Speaking in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister

said the achievement was the result of sustained efforts made by the state

government to strengthen the school education system. He said primary and

middle schools had been upgraded, smart classrooms introduced and teachers

provided advanced training in modern teaching methods.

Mann said the latest figures released by NITI Aayog

showed Punjab at the top in primary and middle-school education. He added that

Kerala had previously held the leading position, but Punjab had now claimed the

top rank by a significant margin.

The Chief Minister said the government had focused on

teacher training, modern teaching techniques and improved school infrastructure

during the past four years. He assured that further steps would be taken to

maintain Punjab’s leading position and continue improving educational

standards.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to quality

education, Mann said every child deserved equal access to learning opportunities,

irrespective of the family’s economic background. He said the government’s

initiatives were aimed at ensuring that children from ordinary families

received the same opportunities to succeed as others.

Recalling Punjab’s progress, Mann claimed that the state

was ranked 27th in school education when his government assumed office, but had

now reached the number one position.

He also highlighted the improved performance of

government-school students in the NEET examination. According to the Chief Minister,

only 80 students from Punjab government schools had qualified NEET in 2021,

while the figure increased to 881 in 2026, marking the highest-ever achievement

by the state’s government schools.

Mann said education remained the strongest instrument for empowering future

generations and building a prosperous Punjab. He added that the state

government would continue taking major initiatives to transform the education

sector and improve people’s lives.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH