No school to operate with single or no teacher by March: Punjab Edu minister

The education minister firmly promised during a meeting that by March, no government school in Punjab would run without a teacher or have only one teacher. He emphasised the significant progress achieved since the Bhagwant Mann-led administration took office in March 2022.

"Out of the 20,000 state-run schools, 3,500 were either operating without teachers or had only one teacher prior to our administration. Presently, the count has decreased to less than 600," Bains informed the assembly, highlighting a remarkable reduction in teacherless or understaffed schools.

"Punjab will be the first state in the country where every school will have a teaching staff,



ensuring no school remains without a teacher or operates with a single teacher, said the minister.

In response to concerns raised about admissions for marginalised communities in private schools, the minister reiterated the government's commitment to providing free and quality education under the Right to Education Act.

Sharing future plans, Bains revealed the government's initiative to equip all 20,000 government schools with WiFi by March.

"Up to now, WiFi systems have been installed in 4,000 schools," he stated. Additionally, plans for the establishment of 10,000 new classrooms were announced to accommodate the growing student population.