Punjab Tops National School Education Rankings, Govt Unveils Real-Time Attendance System

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab has secured the top rank in school education across the country, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Monday, highlighting significant reforms and increased investment in the sector.
Addressing a press conference, Mann said Punjab has surpassed Kerala to achieve the number one position. He credited the achievement to sustained budgetary support and policy reforms undertaken by the state government. The Chief Minister noted that 740 students from government schools have cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains, reflecting improved academic outcomes.
He also pointed to initiatives aimed at strengthening accessibility, including the introduction of yellow bus services for government school students—an initiative he said was implemented for the first time in the state.
Alongside the performance announcement, the government unveiled a major digital overhaul of the education system, set to take effect from April 1, 2026. Under the new system, real-time attendance tracking will be introduced to monitor both students and teachers across government schools.
Officials said parents will receive instant notifications if their child is absent from school. In cases where a student remains absent for more than two to three days, school authorities will be required to directly contact parents to understand the reason and prevent dropouts.
The system will also track teacher attendance. Any absence will be reported to senior officials, as well as shared with parents and School Management Committees (SMCs), in a move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability. The government has mandated that substitute teachers be appointed promptly in cases of extended leave to ensure continuity in learning.
Mann said such features, typically seen in private institutions, are being integrated into Punjab’s government schools, particularly under the “School of Eminence” model, to bridge the gap between public and private education standards.
Reflecting on the broader vision, the Chief Minister criticised past administrations for neglecting government schools and reducing them to basic service centres. He said the current government aims to transform them into institutions of quality education, making them a preferred choice for students across all socio-economic backgrounds.
The reforms, he added, are part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the state’s education system and build a more equitable foundation for future growth.