Marking a historic leap in the state’s education sector, Punjab Government is set to roll out a 54-day statewide education festival titled ‘Sikhya Kranti’ starting April 7. The festival will commemorate the inauguration of infrastructure development projects worth Rs 2,000 crore across 12,000 government schools in the state — a move hailed as one of the largest education transformation initiatives in Punjab’s history.
Announcing the ambitious drive at a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, the state’s School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Sunday said that the initiative represents the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening public education and ensuring holistic development for every student.
“Punjab has entered a new era of education reform. Our vision is to make government schools hubs of excellence, where modern facilities and a secure environment ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to thrive,” said Bains.
On the opening day, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accompanied by AAP senior leader and Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, will inaugurate a School of Eminence (SoE) at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Simultaneously, ministers and legislators across Punjab will dedicate revamped schools in their constituencies, with over 350 school-level inaugurations scheduled for the first day alone.
Infrastructure Upgrades
Bains detailed the transformation achieved under the project. He informed that 17,000 schools have been equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, bringing internet access to classrooms in even the remotest areas. No less than 6,812 schools now boast new or repaired boundary walls spanning over 1,000 km, significantly enhancing safety and security.
A total of 2,261 smart classrooms in 1,886 schools have been outfitted with Smart Interactive Panels, integrating technology into mainstream learning; while 5,399 new classrooms have been added to accommodate growing student strength.
A whopping 1.16 lakh dual desks, tables, and chairs have been distributed, ensuring no child studies while sitting on the floor anymore. Besides, 2,976 new toilets and repairs to 7,166 existing ones have ensured improved hygiene in over 4,800 schools. As many as 359 playgrounds have been developed to promote physical education and extracurricular activities.
The Minister announced that 118 Government Senior Secondary Schools are being upgraded to ‘Schools of Eminence, of which 14 are already operational. These institutions, catering to Classes IX to XII, will serve as model schools, offering advanced academic, co-curricular, and vocational opportunities.
Students will benefit from coaching for competitive exams including NEET, JEE, CLAT, NIFT, and Armed Forces preparatory courses. All education streams — Science, Commerce, and Humanities — have been introduced in these schools. Free uniforms and learning materials are being provided, ensuring accessibility for all.
Calling the ‘Sikhya Kranti’ a “people’s movement”, Bains urged citizens to visit their local schools during the festival to witness the transformation firsthand. “This celebration of education belongs to every Punjabi. Let’s come together to see how our schools have changed and how they are preparing our children for the future,” he said.
Tightening Oversight on Private Schools**
Also addressing concerns about arbitrary fee hikes in private institutions, the Education Minister made it clear that no private school can increase fees beyond eight prevent annually, and they must justify the increment with documented improvements. “Education is not a business. We have no enmity with private schools, but profiteering at the cost of children’s futures is unacceptable,” he added.
