The Punjab government has rolled out sweeping reforms in the education sector, aiming to modernize institutions and expand opportunities for students. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz chaired a high-level meeting to review progress and approve key initiatives. In a major step toward digital education, Google will offer free certification courses to more than 100,000 students across Punjab. 

Students from both government and private institutions will benefit, with courses covering cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, and other fields. These programs will last between three to six months. Importantly, students will not have to pay the usual fees ranging from $400 to $1,000 for these certifications. The chief minister approved scholarships for a large number of students under merit-based programs.

 For the first time in Punjab’s history, 62,949 students will receive scholarships. In Phase I, Rs238 million will be distributed among 5,282 students from 262 government colleges. In Phase II, Rs194 million will support 4,310 students from 200 colleges, with individual scholarships set at Rs100,000. Additionally, 25,000 scholarships will be awarded to 365 graduate students. The Higher Education Department had earlier submitted summaries for 30,000 students for meritorious scholarships. 

Commerce colleges to be merged with universitiesA major structural reform was approved to merge commerce colleges with universities. Under the plan, 36 commerce colleges across 29 districts will be affiliated with 19 government universities. Each college will be linked to a university within its district. Students will be offered 14 BS-level disciplines, including business, accounting, finance, banking, IT, and e-commerce. 

CM Maryam approved the construction of modern IT labs in 166 government colleges across Punjab. She also directed authorities to work on a war footing to improve schools, including those in Sargodha, signaling urgency in upgrading education infrastructure.The chief minister also approved an electric bus facility for college students, aiming to improve transportation and accessibility. This initiative is expected to ease commuting challenges for students across the province. 

For the first time, a decision in principle was taken to standardize college education in Punjab.  “Key Performance Indicators” (KPIs) have been introduced for principals, teachers, and colleges. The performance of vice-chancellors of government universities will also be assessed based on these KPIs.The CM Punjab Laptop Scheme received strong positive feedback, with 98% of students expressing satisfaction. 

More than 38,000 students benefited from Phase I of the program. In Phase II, 142,000 students have applied, and visually impaired and special students will also receive laptops and scholarships. Maryam Nawaz directed that minority students be provided laptops on equal merit-based criteria. According to officials, 994,000 students participated in Grade 8 assessment exams under PECTA in Punjab.

The success rate among female students was 92%, compared to 84% among male students. The chief minister expressed satisfaction that female students secured the top three positions. The wide-ranging initiatives reflect the Punjab government’s commitment to modernizing education, promoting merit, and expanding access to technology and resources.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)