Punjab: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, along with Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister and AAP Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, has launched Mission Samarth 4.0, a major education reform initiative aimed at improving classroom learning, attendance, and accountability across government schools.
The initiative builds on Punjab’s strong performance in the PARAKH National Survey 2024, where the state emerged as a top performer, and is part of the broader Mission Samarth 2026-27 vision.
Daily Attendance Tracking with SMS Alerts for Parents
A key highlight of the new system is a statewide real-time attendance tracking mechanism. Under this system, parents will receive daily SMS updates about their child’s school attendance, including any absence alerts.
Officials said the aim is to ensure:
- Regular student attendance
- Stronger classroom participation
- Improved learning continuity
- Greater accountability between schools and parents
If a student remains absent for 7 consecutive days, district officials will contact parents. For absences exceeding 15 days, higher-level intervention will be initiated.
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Focus on Classroom Learning and Accountability
Addressing the launch event, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said Punjab is moving from national leadership in education performance toward global excellence.
He emphasized that the government is focusing on:
- Strengthening classroom-based learning
- Regular student assessments
- Activity-based teaching methods
- Continuous teacher training and mentoring
He said learning outcomes, not just grades, will define student progress under the new system.
Manish Sisodia Highlights ‘Every Child Must Learn’ Vision
Manish Sisodia said Punjab has proven that government schools can lead the country in education quality.
He stated that Mission Samarth 4.0 ensures every child attends school daily and receives meaningful learning support. He stressed that no student should fall below the “learning baseline,” calling it a responsibility of the education system.
He also highlighted the importance of real-time communication with parents, saying attendance alerts create trust, transparency, and accountability.
Major Increase in Education Investment
The Punjab government has significantly increased its education budget under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
- 2021-22: ₹12,657 crore
- 2026-27: ₹19,279 crore
Officials said the funds are being actively used to strengthen school infrastructure, teacher training, and learning resources across the state.
Mission Samarth 4.0: Key Objectives
The initiative focuses on ensuring students in classes 3 to 8 achieve foundational skills in:
- Reading
- Writing
- Mathematics
It also includes:
- Level-based learning groups instead of grade-based teaching
- Regular assessments to identify learning gaps
- Special support for weaker students
- Teacher-developed classroom best practices
Officials said over 12 lakh students and 70,000 teachers are currently part of the program.
Improved Learning Outcomes in Punjab
According to officials, Punjab has shown strong improvement in foundational education indicators, surpassing national averages in multiple categories. The state has reported significant gains in early-grade learning levels.
Launch of Mission Samarth Compendium
During the event, leaders also released the Mission Samarth Compendium, which documents 38 proven classroom practices developed by Punjab’s teachers. These methods will be implemented across government schools to improve learning outcomes.
