Why Haryana slipping down and Punjab climbing up? Whether Haryana’s higher education standard is below the mark or its school education, the foundation of the education, is decaying day by day or both are inclined to go to the ditch? It should be the issue of concern for the state government. If we notice the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 report 2024-25 for school education released by the Union Ministry of Education on 26th May, Haryana has declined in its national ranking from 8th to 14th.

Punjab is going ahead with its new education model to achieve sky heights and has even emerged as number one state in the country. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann claims that the state has surpassed Kerala & emerged as No. 1 state in education through collective efforts over the last 4 years and we’ll make Punjab country’s premier education destination, eliminating the need for students to look towards Canada or Australia.

“Four years after launching a sweeping transformation of Punjab’s education system, the Government is now setting its sights on a bigger goal: turning Punjab into the country’s leading education destination and reversing the long-held perception that quality education can only be found abroad. The growing dominance of girls among board toppers, and the success of 359 government school students in JEE Main, the state’s Sikhya Kranti (Education Revolution) has begun delivering tangible results on the ground,” said C M Mann while speaking at the ‘Sitaare Zameen Te’ programme in Chandigarh, where top-performing Class 8, 10 and 12 students were honoured.

An official release claims that Punjab’s education transformation has begun yielding measurable outcomes across the state. Government schools in Punjab have secured the top position in the country in the NITI Aayog’s assessment of school education, surpassing several traditionally high-performing states. This year, 359 students from Schools of Eminence and other government schools qualified JEE Main, while the government has also partnered with coaching institute Physics Wallah to provide free coaching for competitive examinations such as JEE and NEET.

As per Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 report for school education released by the Union Ministry of Education on 26th May, Punjab and Chandigarh have once again emerged as the top performers among all states and Union Territories. Punjab has got the place above Delhi, Kerala and neighbouring states Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. From 2021-22 to 2023-24, under the revamped PGI 2.0 framework, Punjab has continued to remain a top-tier state along with Chandigarh.

The just adjacent and so-claimed progressive state, Haryana, its PGI score slipped from 591.4 in 2023-24 to 587.1 in 2024-25, causing a decline in its national ranking from 8th to 14th. The state was placed in the “Prachesta-3” grade. Not only the school education, its higher education standard has also slithered down in such a position that even a sufficient number of its youth, passing out the Post Graduation, NET and PhD degrees from its own colleges and universities are not getting even the minimum qualifying marks to get through the assistant professors exams being conducted by its own Public Service Commission.

What a distressful situation it is! However, its Chief Secretary, while Reviewing Progress on Key Higher Education Reforms in a meeting on May 29, claims that Haryana’s State Public Universities are making significant progress in implementing transformative higher education reforms focused on academic excellence, employability, research, innovation and global competitiveness.

The Tribune, in its story on May 31st, writes “In a jarring revelation that shatters the image of Haryana’s educational progress, the latest Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2024-25 report released recently by the Union Ministry of Education exposed a harsh reality: Gurugram, the state’s crown jewel, is performing worse than Punjab’s lowest-ranked district, Patiala. The numbers do not lie; Haryana’s best is being outplayed by Punjab’s worst, and the gap in basic government facilities remains a gaping wound in the state’s development narrative.”

Sharing a few snippets from this heartfelt gathering on X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Today in Chandigarh, I had the privilege of honouring the meritorious Class 8, 10 and 12 toppers of the Punjab School Education Board during the ‘Sitaare Zameen Te’ programme. On the occasion, I issued special instructions to the Education Department that students securing equal marks should be awarded a joint first position instead of deciding ranks on the basis of date of birth. Today, due to the dedicated efforts of your government, Punjab’s government schools are surpassing even Kerala in the field of education.”

“My message to the students is simple: no matter how successful you become in life, always remain grounded. Always respect your teachers and parents, because even a winner has to bow down to receive a medal. My heartfelt best wishes to all of you for a bright and successful future,” the post concluded.

Highlighting the Punjab Government’s efforts to improve the quality of education, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann says, “Our teachers are being sent abroad for specialised training where they learn modern teaching practices. After returning, they share this knowledge with students and fellow teachers, ensuring that global standards of education reach classrooms across Punjab. This path-breaking initiative is rejuvenating the education system and bringing qualitative changes that directly benefit students. These teachers are acting as agents of change and strengthening the Education Revolution in Punjab.”

Mann adds, “This initiative enhances the expertise of teachers and equips them with modern methodologies to prepare students for future challenges and international competition. The results are visible today as students from Punjab are excelling in various fields and making their families proud. Since the present era belongs to skills, our government is placing special emphasis on imparting quality skill training to youth.”

Calling upon students to remain grounded and hardworking, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann advises, “You should strive to become grass-rooters in life and not parachuters. Grass-rooters rise from the ground through hard work and determination and go on to conquer the world. For such hardworking individuals, the sky's the limit. Parachuters, on the other hand, descend from the sky and are destined to fall sooner or later. Your focus should always be on excellence, and our government will provide every possible support to help you achieve your goals.”

Drawing an analogy with aviation, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Just as a runway enables an aircraft to take off smoothly, the Punjab Government is creating opportunities and support systems that help students realise their dreams. Every effort is being made to give wings to the ideas of our youth, and no stone is being left unturned in this noble mission. I urge every young person to carve out a distinct identity through hard work and dedication because there are no limits to what you can achieve.”

Urging students to remain humble despite success, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “You should never become arrogant because of your achievements. Confidence and positivity are essential qualities, but pride should never accompany success. Humility, hard work and perseverance are the true keys to sustained success, and these values must always guide your journey.”

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains says, “When I assumed office, nearly four lakh children in Punjab were studying while sitting on the floor. Today, due to the concerted efforts of the Punjab Government, not a single child has to sit on the floor to study. Punjab is now securing top positions in almost every national report related to the education sector.”

The official release reveals that the Punjab government has also partnered with coaching institute Physics Wallah to provide free coaching for competitive examinations such as JEE and NEET and it has introduced Parent-Teacher Meetings across nearly 19,000 government schools, bringing together around 25 lakh parents and over 1.8 lakh school staff to jointly focus on students’ development. Other key reforms include overseas training programmes for teachers in Finland and Singapore, transportation facilities for girl students, and the expansion of Schools of Eminence aimed at providing world-class education to Punjab’s children.

Punjab’s education model and its efforts to uplift the education standard and facilities will not only provide better future paths for its kids and young generation, but also prove to be a lighthouse for the other states too, we can hope so. (IPA Service)