Mann honours 71 teachers, says state ‘best’ in school education

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann felicitated 71 teachers at a state-level function in at Anandpur Sahib on Sunday.

The programme was held to mark the World Teachers’ Day.

While addressing the teachers, the CM said that Punjab had “achieved the first rank in school education across India”, surpassing Kerala, owing to the “revolutionary reforms introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government”.

He said teaching was not merely a profession but a mission to shape the nation’s future. “Teachers are like gardeners who nurture young minds. I am the son of a teacher and I know the joy teachers feel at their students’ success,” Mann said.

He said 118 Schools of Eminence have been constructed in Punjab, equipped with world-class infrastructure.

“Students are being trained for recruitment into the armed forces, as well as for JEE and NEET. Campus managers have been appointed to ensure smooth administration and maintenance of facilities,” he added.

Highlighting the government’s efforts to bring global learning practices to Punjab, Mann said teachers are being sent to Singapore and Finland for exposure to the best education models. “Punjab’s school education has improved from 28th position to the top rank in a Union Government survey,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has refused to spare teachers for census operations. “I have written to the Union Government asking it to employ unemployed graduates and postgraduates for the census. This will generate employment and give them valuable experience,” he said.

Referring to recent floods, Mann said that 3,200 schools and 19 colleges were damaged and crops spread over 5 lakh acres were destroyed. “The way Punjabis stood united in this crisis is a model for the world,” he said.