- 18,000 Government Schools will get the benifit, major education reforms aim to boost student safety and learning outcomes in Punjab schools.
Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The Punjab government has rolled out an online attendance tracker system across 18,000 government schools in the state starting today. Under the new system, parents will receive an SMS notification if their child is absent from school. If a student remains absent for more than three consecutive days, the school will directly call the parents. In cases of prolonged absence, district and headquarters officials will intervene after 15 days.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced the launch, stating that the system will also enhance student safety. The tracker will cover all students enrolled in government schools, which number around 3 million across the state. Alongside this, the government has also launched the “Samarth Project.”
Bains highlighted improvements in the education system since 2022, noting that earlier, textbooks often reached schools as late as September or October, forcing students to rely on photocopies. However, after reforms by the current government, books were delivered to schools in February this year. Bundled sets of books were then distributed to students on April 1, similar to private schools, ensuring classes began on time.
Punjab Tops Education Rankings
According to the Education Department, Punjab secured the top position nationally in the PARAKH 2024 survey. Following significant achievements over the past three years, the next phase of Mission Samarth has now been launched. The department claims that consistent reforms over four years have led to visible improvements in learning outcomes.
Key Reforms and Achievements
- Punjab’s education budget has increased to ₹19,279 crore.
- 118 modern “Schools of Eminence” have been established.
- Principals and teachers received international training in countries like Singapore and Finland, as well as at IIM Ahmedabad.
- Over 14,500 new teachers have been recruited.
- Punjab ranked among the top states in NAS 2024.
- A record number of government school students cleared competitive exams like JEE Main.
The government says these initiatives are delivering positive results and strengthening the overall education system in the state.