Revolutionizing Education in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has unveiled a series of groundbreaking initiatives aimed at transforming the education sector. The launch of the CM Education Card will support school students, while high-achieving students scoring 80% or above will be rewarded with the CM Eminence/Star Card as recognition for their academic excellence.

Boosting Enrollment and Teaching Standards

During a special meeting on school education, the CM was briefed on the impact of outsourcing schools, which has led to:

• A 52% increase in student enrollment.
• An 89% rise in the number of teachers.
• The Public School Reorganization Program, which expanded student numbers from 242,000 to 368,000.
• Teacher salaries tripling, while classroom furniture—including chairs and desks—rose from 371,000 to 523,000.

New Schools and Technical Education Expansion

To enhance educational quality, Punjab will establish modern Schools of Eminence in every tehsil. Additionally, a state-of-the-art Matric Tech lab will be introduced, making technical education a subject from grade five onwards.

Investments in Infrastructure and Student Welfare

The Punjab government has taken major steps to improve school facilities, including:

• A 90-day deadline to ensure clean drinking water, furniture, and school maintenance.
• A target to enroll 2 million new students annually.
• The launch of a school meal program in districts such as Bhakkar and Layyah to address student nutrition.

Innovations in Teaching and Learning

The education system will now feature:

• A KPI-based monitoring system for teachers and education officers.
• Pilot English conversation classes in 338 schools in Lahore.
• Introduction of international English certification courses in government schools.
• Five government school teachers sent to Scotland for training, in collaboration with the British Council.

Infrastructure Development and Sustainability Efforts

Under the School Teacher Internship Program, 12,500 teaching interns will be recruited, with 568,000 applications already received. Other major infrastructure improvements include:

• 35 new classrooms, 459 renovation projects, 110 new toilets, and 1,389 water supply pumps installed.
• New computer labs established through self-help programs.
• Expansion of Nawaz Sharif Center of Excellence for Early Childhood Education, increasing capacity from 250 to 1,200 students.
• Two million saplings planted under the “One Plant, One Teacher’s Name” program.

With these initiatives, Punjab’s education system is set to experience significant growth and modernization.