Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

Punjab has emerged as India’s top-performing state in school education, surpassing Kerala in key foundational learning indicators as per the NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026. The report marks a major turnaround for government schools in the state and highlights the impact of the Bhagwant Mann Government’s education reforms.

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains described the achievement as the beginning of a new era for Punjab’s education system. He said the recognition belongs to parents, teachers and students who continued to believe in government schools. He added that the achievement was the result of strong policy decisions and proper implementation over the last few years.

According to the report, Punjab recorded 82 percent proficiency in language and 78 percent in mathematics among Class 3 students, higher than Kerala’s 75 percent and 70 percent respectively. In Class 9 mathematics, Punjab scored 52 percent, significantly ahead of Kerala’s 45 percent.

The minister said the post-COVID education recovery initiatives launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann under Mission Samarth and the Schools of Eminence programme have delivered visible results across the state.

The report also highlighted major improvements in school infrastructure. Nearly 99.9 percent of government schools in Punjab now have electricity, while 99 percent are equipped with functional computers. More than 80 percent of schools have smart classrooms. The student-teacher ratio has improved to 22:1, while over 90 percent of Class 10 students are now continuing their studies in Class 11, reflecting a sharp decline in dropout rates.

Harjot Singh Bains further said that Punjab has been appreciated by NITI Aayog for reducing the urban-rural gap in education and ensuring equal opportunities for village students and girls. He said the state’s focus on global teaching standards has also improved competitive exam results, with 786 government school students qualifying JEE Main and 1,284 students clearing NEET so far.

The minister added that Punjab has recruited around 13,000 teachers and staff, launched the English Edge Programme for nearly three lakh students and established 118 Schools of Eminence across the state.