Punjab’s Minister of Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, has presented the performance report of his ministry for the year 2024, terming it a transformative year for education in the province.
Punjab’s Minister of Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, has presented the performance report of his ministry for the year 2024, terming it a transformative year for education in the province. The Minister highlighted the significant reforms and initiatives introduced during the first 10 months of the government’s tenure, claiming that their work has outpaced the achievements of the previous government’s entire term.
“2024 was a year of historic educational reforms in Punjab. In just 10 months, we rectified the serious mistakes of the previous political administration and delivered results equivalent to five years of work,” said Rana Sikandar Hayat. He added that the current government’s efforts over 10 months can favorably compare to the four-year tenure of their predecessors.
The Education Minister shared that under the new policies, the cost of publishing textbooks was significantly reduced from Rs 14 billion during the PTI era to Rs 6 billion, by eliminating unnecessary intermediaries. A strong crackdown on cheating networks, known as the “booti mafia,” was also launched, with security cameras installed in examination centers to ensure transparency during exams.
Rana Sikandar Hayat said that technological advancements were a key focus, with the introduction of tech education, AI courses, and Google for Education programs in Pakistan. A collaboration with Google was initiated to offer IT certification courses to 300,000 youth, aiming to equip them with skills relevant to modern demands.
A massive enrollment drive was launched to bring out-of-school children back into the education system. Under the Zewar-e-Taleem program, Rs 2.1 billion in stipends were distributed to female students, significantly boosting girls’ education across the province. The Minister also highlighted the launch of the largest scholarship scheme in Pakistan’s history, which now benefits 30,000 students annually from both public and private universities.
Adult literacy programs were also prioritized, while the scope of technology education in schools was further expanded. A nutrition program was introduced in public schools in South Punjab, benefiting approximately 400,000 children daily. To enhance girls’ access to education, transport facilities were provided in tehsils, and a scooter scheme was launched for female students.
Rana Sikandar Hayat emphasized that merit-based reforms were a hallmark of his administration. For the first time, all appointments to administrative positions in the education department—including vice-chancellors, college directors, principals, CEOs, and DEOs—were made through transparent testing and interview processes. Additionally, Punjab’s first-ever e-transfer policy for teacher transfers was implemented, ensuring efficiency and fairness. NADRA verification was made mandatory to eliminate fake enrollments and ensure accurate data management.
He further shared that commerce colleges were converted into e-commerce colleges to align with changing market trends, while low-performing schools were outsourced to improve outcomes. This step resulted in a substantial increase in enrollment from 250,000 to 425,000 students. Committees were established at the divisional level to monitor schools, address infrastructure gaps, and improve the overall education system.
A pilot project for EdTech-based schools targeting out-of-school children has been launched, with plans to expand the program across Punjab in 2025. The Minister also announced that preparations for the laptop scheme have been finalized, with the distribution set to begin in January 2025.
Rana Sikandar Hayat concluded by expressing his government’s commitment to transforming public education in the province. “We are determined to fulfill the dream of making government schools synonymous with quality education within the next two years,” he affirmed.
