CHANDIGARH-Punjab has pushed its Sikhya Kranti (education revolution) into the next phase, with Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, along with former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia, on Thursday launching Mission Samrath 4.0, a flagship foundational learning programme aimed at achieving global excellence in education. The new phase introduces a state-wide attendance tracking system under which parents will receive daily SMS alerts on their child’s attendance, marking a decisive shift towards real-time accountability and stronger learning continuity in classrooms.
Declaring it as the next big leap in Punjab’s Sikhya Kranti, the Education Minister said Punjab, already ranked No.1 in the PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) survey, is now moving from recognition to results by tightening classroom accountability and scaling proven teaching practices. He underscored that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has raised the education budget to ₹19, 279 crore, ensuring funds reach classrooms rather than remain stuck in files, driving visible transformation from basic infrastructure to measurable learning outcomes across government schools.
Highlighting Punjab’s top rank in the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has introduced the attendance tracking system as part of Mission Samrath 2026–27.
Highlighting the Punjab Government’s investment in education, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “CM Bhagwant Singh Mann increased the education budget from ₹12, 657 crore in 2021–22 to ₹19, 279 crore in 2026–27, the largest allocation for any sector in Punjab. This money isn’t just on paper. It has reached every school. Teachers used to collect donations to repair toilets or buy brooms during past regimes. Now, they say, don’t send grants, we haven’t spent the last one.”
On academic reforms, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that textbooks now reach students on time, adding, “Earlier, teachers photocopied pages till September or October as books hadn’t arrived. This year, the Punjab Government delivered complete textbooks to every child on April 1, free of cost, like any private school, made possible through meticulous planning and political will.”
Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Delhi Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia also released the Mission Samrath Compendium, documenting 38 proven classroom practices developed by Punjab’s teachers, which will now be scaled across government schools to accelerate learning outcomes, particularly for students requiring additional support.
Minister Harjot Singh Bains noted that Mission Samrath has already become one of India’s largest foundational learning programmes, covering nearly 12 lakh students and engaging over 70, 000 teachers annually, with its level-based teaching approach grouping students by learning level rather than grade, contributing to Punjab’s top rank in PARAKH.
Manish Sisodia said, “Punjab has proven that government schools can lead the nation. Being ranked number one in PARAKH 2024 is testament to that. With Mission Samrath 4.0, the state ensures every child is in school every day and learning well. This is a step towards global excellence.”
Secretary School Education Sonali Giri welcomed the dignitaries and said, “We will ensure every student and parent feels proud to be part of government schools. Punjab has set the benchmark, and Mission Samrath will take it further.”
Director SCERT Kiran Sharma, Advisory Board Member of Central Square Foundation Shaveta Sharma Kukreja, and other senior officials of the department were also present on the occasion.