Govt sets target to enrol 10m children

The Punjab government has set a goal of enrolling around 10 million children for the 2023 academic year in order to enroll as many street-connected children as possible in educational institutions.

However, teachers’ organisations have deemed this goal unrealistic, citing the lack of classrooms, science labs, computers, drinking water, electricity, teachers, and class IV employees in government educational institutions.

According to sources, starting from February 1, 2023, admissions for nursery and grade-I will take place in two phases. The first from February 1 to May 31 and the second from August 15 to October 31, they said. With 49,000 government schools and 26,000 private schools in Punjab, there are currently over 11 million students enrolled in government schools and 1.3 million in private schools, sources informed.

Additionally, 2.5 million children aged between 5 and 12 are pushed by poverty to beg and work as child labourers in inhumane conditions. The goal of enrolling 10 million children is considered absurd and comical by the Punjab Teachers Union.