Punjab Education Minister enrolls son in govt school, showcases reforms & budget

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat revealed that his son has been enrolled in a government school in Kasur, attending classes alongside children of school staff. The minister shared the announcement on X, emphasizing his commitment to public education reforms under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s administration.

The post received praise from political allies, including PTI lawmaker Samar Haroon Bilour. Hayat also used the platform to question journalist Imran Riaz Khan regarding the schooling of his children, amid ongoing initiatives to improve public education for the province’s 25 million students.

Punjab has allocated a 21.2% increase in its education budget, bringing the total to ₹811.8 billion for the fiscal year 2025–26, up from ₹669.7 billion in the previous year. Key allocations include:

• ₹40 billion for constructing additional classrooms, IT labs, and upgrading facilities under the Punjab Education Management Authority (PEIMA).

• ₹39 billion for private sector engagement through the Punjab Education Fund (PEF) and PEIMA initiatives.

• ₹15 billion for the Honehar Scholarship Programme.

• ₹5 billion for establishing Schools of Eminence across 36 districts.

• ₹7 billion for the school meal programme.

• ₹2 billion for IT labs in colleges.

• ₹3.5 billion for the Daanish Schools Programme, aimed at providing quality education to underprivileged children.

Punjab’s education system has shown significant progress nationally. The state ranks 2nd in India in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2023–24, with a score of 631.2, in the Prachesta-3 category. Punjab also topped the National Achievement Survey 2024 for learning outcomes in Classes 3, 6, and 9.

These measures reflect the province’s ongoing focus on improving infrastructure, access, and quality in education.