Punjab has achieved the top position in the NITI Aayog School Education Quality Index 2026. The state has surpassed Kerala in the rankings. This marks a significant shift in the state's education system.
Punjab Education Reforms Yield Results
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains reported the change during a discussion in the Punjab Assembly. He stated that the AAP government's promised education revolution is underway. Bains highlighted the state of schools in July 2022. At that time, over 8,000 schools lacked boundary walls. Around 3,200 schools had no functional toilets. Nearly 400,000 children sat on floors during lessons. Textbooks often arrived in October or November, reducing learning time.
The minister detailed improvements made since 2022. Textbooks now reach district headquarters by February 15. Full distribution concludes by March 31. Bains has personally visited over 2,000 government schools. These visits included schools in border areas and remote villages. This outreach aimed to identify student and school needs.
Key Initiatives Drive Educational Improvement
Mission Samarth is now one of India's largest foundational learning programs. It groups students by learning level, not class. This allows personalized progress in reading, writing, and math. Bains noted that in late 2022, some Class 8 students struggled with basic skills. They were tutored from a Class 3 curriculum and are now improving. The program reaches 1.2 million students annually. Over 70,000 teachers participate each year.
Punjab is the first state to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a core subject. AI is taught from Class 1 through Class 12. The number of NEET qualifiers from government schools has also risen sharply. In 2021, 80 students qualified. By 2026, this number reached 882. The Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) initiative is credited for this increase. These measures aim to strengthen government schools and student outcomes.
