Punjab Education transformed in 2025: Rana Sikandar Hayat

Speaking about the department’s performance, the minister said that like the previous year, 2025 remained a year of continuous efforts to strengthen

Punjab’s Education Minister, Rana Sikandar Hayat, has said that the year 2025 proved to be another milestone for improving the education sector, as the government focused on reforms that delivered visible results across schools, colleges, and universities.

Speaking about the department’s performance, the minister said that like the previous year, 2025 remained a year of continuous efforts to strengthen the education system. He noted that nearly two million ghost enrollments were eliminated, which helped bring transparency and accuracy to student data. In addition, the rationalization of around 26,000 teachers played a key role in overcoming teacher shortages in many schools.

Rana Sikandar Hayat said historic progress was made in curriculum reforms, while major examination reforms were also introduced. Education boards were shifted towards e-marking, a move aimed at improving fairness, efficiency, and transparency in the assessment system.

He further shared that early childhood education remained a top priority. As part of this focus, ECE rooms were established in around 10,000 schools across the province, creating a better learning environment for young children. Alongside this, about 1.1 million students are benefiting daily from the school nutrition program, which supports both health and learning outcomes.

The minister added that record steps were taken to address the lack of basic facilities in schools. During the year, 268 schools were upgraded, while decisions were made in 37 cases related to harassment of teachers, reflecting the government’s commitment to accountability and a safe working environment.

Highlighting support for higher education, Rana Sikandar Hayat said that principals were appointed on merit in 450 colleges, and the process of appointing permanent vice chancellors in 29 universities was successfully completed. He also announced that students of private educational institutions would receive 10,000 laptops, expanding the scope of digital access.

He said that STEM education was being actively promoted, with STEM clubs now established in all high and higher secondary schools, while the development of STEM labs has also begun. To restore public trust in government schools, the minister pointed out that he enrolled his own son in a public school, calling it a practical example of confidence in the system.

Concluding his remarks, Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government believes in delivering results rather than making promises. “Our work speaks for itself,” he said, adding that even more record-breaking initiatives in education are planned for the coming year.