Under the 'Bright Minds Punjab 2026' initiative, a grand and inspiring ceremony was organized today at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan, Ludhiana. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, attended the event as the chief guests.
The primary objective of the program was to establish a direct dialogue with students and teachers to discuss the ongoing transformations and reforms in the education system.On this occasion, meritorious students who scored more than 95% marks in their Class 12 examinations were specially felicitated.
Congratulating the achievers, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated that these students are not just the pride of their families, but represent the bright future of Punjab and the nation. He expressed confidence that these bright minds will serve the country in the future by holding prestigious positions as IAS, IPS officers, doctors, lawyers, and other key professionals.
The Education Minister further highlighted that this is the first time an Education Minister and the Education Secretary have personally sat down with students to seek their feedback on the examination system, curriculum, and teaching methodologies. Praising the inputs, he mentioned that the issues raised by the children are highly relevant and timely, and will be integrated into future policy-making.
Making a major announcement, Harjot Singh Bains stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a crucial domain in the modern era. The Punjab Government has been consistently working on this initiative for the past year, and the AI Curriculum will be officially launched in all government schools across the state starting next month.
He also proudly shared that Punjab has made massive strides in school education, surpassing Kerala to secure the top spot in India's Education Index-a milestone achieved through the collective dedication of teachers, students, and the government.
Addressing the gathering, former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, emphasized that a nation's progress is directly rooted in the strength of its education system. He asserted that delivering quality education to every child is the government's foremost responsibility.
Speaking on AI technology, he noted that while it will unlock new employment opportunities, it will also impact traditional job roles. Therefore, equipping students with modern technological skills is essential. He also stressed the need to reform the evaluation system, eradicate cheating, and adopt innovative, scientific teaching methodologies.
Speaking on the occasion, Education Secretary Sonali Giri motivated the teachers and students to actively contribute to societal development. She urged everyone to collectively combat drug abuse, unemployment, and systemic shortcomings in education.
She also administered a pledge to the students to safeguard constitutional values, uphold their cultural heritage, and actively protect the environment and motherland.The event concluded on a high note, setting a visionary benchmark for the future of education in Punjab by actively valuing student voices and embracing cutting-edge technology.
The high-profile event saw the presence of MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Director of School Education (Secondary) Sakattar Singh Ball, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Dr. Narinder Singh Dhaliwal, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Ludhiana East) Jasleen Kaur Bhullar, District Education Officer Dimple Madan, and National Awardee Master Karamjit Singh Grewal, who conducted the stage proceedings, alongside a massive gathering of students and teachers from across the region.