Punjab Congress Accuses AAP Government of Failing Education System
The Punjab Congress has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging that the state's education system is in a "deep crisis" despite official promotions of an "education revolution." State Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring dismissed the AAP's rhetoric as "groundless advertising" and presented data highlighting severe issues plaguing government schools.
Grim Indicators of Systemic Failure
Warring pointed to several alarming trends that contradict the government's narrative of improvement:
- Declining Enrolment: The number of primary schools with fewer than 15 students has risen from 237 to 276, while upper primary schools in this category jumped from 54 to 89. In Sangrur district, the CM's home turf, 1,661 students have abandoned government primary schools, with "fake enrolments" allegedly masking the loss of public trust.
- Chronic Teacher Shortages: More than 6,400 teaching positions remain vacant across Punjab, leaving nearly a quarter of upper primary schools with an imbalanced pupil-teacher ratio.
- Stalled Infrastructure Projects: Over 1,000 infrastructure projects are pending, including 179 incomplete and 733 yet to break ground.
- Access Issues: Despite the Right to Education (RTE) mandate, 32 villages in Punjab still lack a primary school.
Political Hypocrisy and Recruitment Claims
Warring mocked the AAP government for celebrating Punjab's high ranking in the 2024 National Achievement Survey (NAS), reminding that when Punjab topped the survey in 2021 under Congress rule, AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia dismissed it as "manipulated." He questioned, "Should we tell you the same?" regarding the current results.
Former education minister Pargat Singh accused CM Mann of misleading the public by claiming credit for the 2024 NAS ranking after dismissing the 2021 top rank as "fake." He argued that the current success is the "harvest" of long-term reforms initiated by the Congress government between 2017 and 2022.
Singh also rubbished the government's claim of recruiting 14,525 new teachers as a "propaganda lie," stating that most appointments, including master cadre and ETT positions, were finalized under the previous Congress administration. He noted that AAP has not issued a single new recruitment advertisement for these cadres since taking office, warning that such "political messaging" undermines institutional credibility and public trust.
Quotes from Congress Leaders
"Punjab topped the survey because of the sound foundations laid by the Congress govt between 2017 and 2022. You are merely reaping the harvest of our hard work."
Amrinder Singh Raja Warring | Punjab Congress Chief
"The govt's claim of recruiting 14,525 new teachers as a propaganda lie. Most of these appointments, including master cadre and ETT positions, were finalised under the previous govt."
Pargat Singh | Former Education Minister
