On Monday, Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that all schools, colleges, universities, and polytechnic institutes would continue to remain shut until September 7, 2025. After a severe flood, nothing is operating and life has come to a stand still at this point. Bains stated that the closure of the educational institutions of Punjab was at the behest of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who told the departments of education to put the students and teacher's safety first in this disaster.
“Following the directions of Hon’ble CM S. Bhagwant Singh Mann Ji and considering the current flood situation in Punjab, holidays have been announced in all government, private, aided, and recognized educational institutions until September 7,” Bains posted on X (formerly Twitter). He also urged the public to follow local administration advisories without fail.
Floods Ravage Punjab’s Heartland
The state government had announced that all 23 districts of Punjab are calamity hit. The floods laid waste to estates, properties and crops. Officially it indicates up to almost 3.5 lakh homes have been destroyed with more than 61,000 hectares of land have been flooded, dismantling the agrarian economy. It also took more than 30 lives.
Schools Turn Into Relief Camps
All over Punjab, many children have lost their access to classrooms. In a number of villages, school buildings now operate as relief camps. Desks and benches have drifted away, playgrounds are filled with water, and chalkboards are coated with mud. For some students, this disruption has been extreme. "Books are ruined, uniforms are gone and we don't know when schools will start up again," said Simran Kaur, a Class 9 student from Ferozepur, while seated at a relief camp housing her displaced family.
According to official estimates, over 1,400 villages saw schools submerged or repurposed as camps for flood-hit families.
Academic Uncertainty
Serious worries for students awaiting board exams, semester tests, and competitive entrance exams over the long shutdown. Parents and teachers are also stressing that the complete syllabus backlog may actually cause additional pressure on students especially students from Class 10 and 12.
Many coaching institutes in Ludhiana and Jalandhar have also already been shut down given the water-logging. Teachers from flood-affected districts say any hopes of engaging students online are slim. “Most areas do not have electricity or internet connectivity in. We can’t possibly conduct online classes,” said a teacher from Gurdaspur, calling attention to the rural digital gap that has widened.
Universities and Colleges Step Up
Many private universities and colleges in Mohali, Ludhiana, and Amritsar are hosting flood victims on a temporary basis by providing shelter, food, and mental support. "Education can wait—for now, our responsibility is humanitarian. Our students and staff are involved in volunteerism at community kitchens and donation drives," an official from a private university in Mohali said.
Polytechnic institutions are also impacted. Many have suspended practical training programmes with damages to lots of laboratories and machinery. Authorities have acknowledged that campus rehabilitation will take weeks post water recedes.
Government’s Assurance
The Chief Minister, Mann, stated, after navigating and assessing the submerged villages in a boat, that while rescue and rehabilitation measures are in place, once the situation settles, "education reconstruction will be set in motion compass." He reiterated his call for ₹60,000 crore release of outstanding central allocations, advising it would be directed towards rebuilding schools, colleges and universities.
Once schools open again after September 7, many pupils may find going back to the new year, not back into a familiar classroom, but a damaged building that needs significant repairs. Textbooks will need to be re-circulated, and all teachers will need to start from scratch with lesson planning - all the while navigating circumstances in a state affected by a natural disaster.
''In accordance with the directives of Hon’ble CM S. Bhagwant Singh Mann Ji and in light of the immediate flood situation of Punjab, holidays have been declared in all government, private, aided, recognized educational institutions until September 7''; Bains noted on X (formerly Twitter). Bains further advised, "people should rigorously adhere to what local administration is advising".
Floods Ravage Punjab’s Heartland
The state government has said that all 23 districts of Punjab are disaster-hit and the floods, so far, have created devastation unlike any other. Official estimates say that close to 3.5 lakh people have been displaced, and over 61,000 hectares of farmland are underwater, crippling the agricultural economy. More than 30 lives have been lost too.
Schools Turn Into Relief Camps
Across Punjab, thousands of students are missing their classrooms. In some locales, school buildings serve as relief shelters. Desks and benches floated away, playgrounds remained flooded, and chalk boards were mud-covered.
For many students like Simran Kaur, a Class 9 student from Ferozepur, the disruption has been acute. “Books are ruined, uniforms are gone, and we don’t even know when schools will be opened again,” she said from a relief camp housing her displaced family.
According to government estimates, over 1,400 villages have schools that were either flooded or were turned into shelters for families affected by the floods.
Academic Uncertainty
The extended shutdown has created anxiety for students preparing for their board exam, semester exam, and competitive entrance exams. Parents and teachers are anxious the syllabus backlog will put further pressure on students, especially for students in Class 10 and 12. Coaching colleges in Ludhiana and Jalandhar have also been forced to close due to water-logging. Teachers from flood hit districts said the possibilities of online learning are slim. "There is no electricity or internet in most of the areas. We cannot possible conduct online classes," said a teacher from Gurdaspur, highlighting the growing rural digital divide.
Universities and Colleges Step Up
A number of private universities and colleges in Mohali, Ludhiana, and Amritsar are welcoming flood victims and providing temporary accommodation, food and support. "Education can wait; our responsibility is humanitarian. We wish to help those impacted by the floods. There are volunteers co-ordinating voluntary time, along with student and staff time at community kitchens and donation centers," said the representative of a private university in Mohali.
Polytechnic institutes are also impacted, with several suspending practical training programmes due to damage to laboratories and machinery. Authorities concede it could take weeks to fix up campuses after the waters recede.
Government’s Assurance
CM Mann, who traveled by boat through inundated communities, ensured folks that education recovery in Punjab will be a "top priority" once relief and then on recovery is assured. He also repeated his call for the release of ₹60,000 crore of pending central funds, repeating that some of that would go into repairing and rebuilding schools, colleges, and universities.
When educational institutions re-open post September 7th, it is likely that many students will not be coming back to the classrooms they left behind, but rather into a damaged building that requires repairs. Text books will required re-distribute, and lessons will likely need to start over—a daunting task in a State still recovering from a disaster.
