In a historic move, Punjab’s Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced a sweeping education reform plan set to transform the province’s schooling system. The initiative includes a record increase in the school education development budget from PKR 32 billion to PKR 135 billion, nearly 4% of the total provincial budget, making it one of the largest education investments in Punjab’s history.
The higher education development budget has also been expanded significantly — from PKR 17 billion to PKR 90 billion — signaling a strong commitment to improving both school and university-level education in Punjab.
Major Announcements from Punjab’s Education Reforms 2025
- Reintroduction of Board Exams for Grade 8 to ensure academic standards and performance evaluation.
- Establishment of 5,000 IT Labs across schools to improve digital access and tech education.
- Activity-Based Learning across classrooms to shift away from rote learning and promote critical thinking.
- Construction of 35,000 New Classrooms to address overcrowding and improve the learning environment.
- All Missing Facilities to be Provided, including clean water, electricity, toilets, and boundary walls.
- Scooters for Teachers, especially women, to help them commute to schools in far-flung areas.
- Demolition of Dangerous Buildings and construction of modern, safe classrooms.
- Early Childhood Education Centers in Every District to focus on foundational learning.
- Autism Schools in Every District to promote inclusive education for children with special needs.
- "Matric Tech" Program to integrate vocational and technical training into the matriculation system.
- Monthly Honorarium of PKR 10,000 for Regular Head Teachers to recognize leadership roles and incentivize performance.
Transforming Punjab’s Education Landscape
This reform agenda is more than just a budgetary expansion — it’s a long-term vision to build a future-ready, inclusive, and equitable education system. With a focus on digital literacy, early education, special needs inclusion, and technical training, the plan aims to prepare Punjab’s students for the challenges of the 21st-century economy.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said:
“This is not just about infrastructure. It’s about opportunity, equity, and preparing our next generation for a globally competitive future. Every child in Punjab deserves quality education, and we are committed to delivering it.”
A New Era for Education in Punjab
Education experts, parents, and students have welcomed the reforms, describing them as a bold and much-needed transformation of the provincial education system. Analysts believe that this could set a precedent for other provinces to follow, especially with the growing demand for tech integration and inclusive policies in schools.
These comprehensive reforms are expected to impact millions of students, teachers, and educational institutions across Punjab, making this one of the most ambitious education policy shifts in recent decades.
