Continuing the Punjab Government’s flagship Mission Rozgar, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday handed over appointment letters to 606 newly recruited candidates of the Education Department at a ceremony held at Tagore Theatre, marking a historic milestone of providing more than 61,000 government jobs to the youth of Punjab within four years. The newly appointed candidates include 385 Special Educator Teachers, 157 Primary Teachers, eight Principals, and 56 employees recruited on compassionate grounds.

Extending New Year greetings to the appointees, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this achievement reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to merit, transparency, and fairness in public recruitment. “After assuming office in April 2022, our government launched a massive recruitment drive under which 61,281 government jobs have been provided so far. It is a matter of pride that every single appointment has been made purely on merit and transparency, and not even one has been challenged in court,” said the Chief Minister, adding that this was a proud moment not just for the government, but for the youth of Punjab.

Recalling past practices, the Chief Minister said that earlier generations of young people were forced to wait endlessly for appointment letters, anxiously scanning newspapers and postboxes. “Those days are over. Today, the Punjab Government has put in place a system where deserving youth get jobs based only on their capability. The government itself honours them by handing over appointment letters personally,” he said.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that previous governments failed to respect merit and competence, instead distributing government jobs among their sons, nephews, and favourites. “They never felt the pain of qualified youth who were forced to wander from pillar to post in search of employment. In just four years, we have ensured that young people from every village, town, and city of Punjab get jobs purely on merit,” he pointed out.

Stating that the present system has opened doors for youth from ordinary families, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Today, hardworking youngsters are getting a fair opportunity to move ahead. Traditional political parties treated their families as Punjab, but for me, the entire state of Punjab is my family.”

Announcing a major reform in the education sector, the Chief Minister stated that a separate cadre of Special Educator Teachers has been created for children with special needs studying in government schools across the state. “Around 48,000 children with special needs are currently enrolled in government schools. To ensure quality education for them, we have appointed 385 teachers under this special cadre,” he said, adding that these appointments would significantly help such children develop skills at both primary and secondary levels.

Addressing the newly appointed Special Educator Teachers, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that their responsibility extends beyond teaching. “Your duty is not only to educate these children but also to serve humanity. Your role in shaping their future will be even greater than that of their parents,” he said, urging them to carry out this noble responsibility with complete dedication and commitment.

Congratulating the newly appointed teachers and principals, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the future of the nation rests in the hands of teachers. “A teacher shapes a student to become a doctor, an engineer, or an artist, just as a sculptor shapes his masterpiece. What is etched on an innocent mind never fades in a lifetime,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s focus on quality education, the Chief Minister said that Punjab’s government school teachers are now being trained at global standards. “So far, 234 principals and education officers have received training in Singapore, 249 head teachers at IIM Ahmedabad, and 216 primary teachers at Turku University in Finland,” he said.

He added that revolutionary steps taken by the Punjab Government in education are now being discussed across the country. “We are establishing 118 Schools of Eminence in Punjab, which will play a transformative role in securing a bright future for underprivileged children. Free uniforms are being provided, and free bus service for girls has been launched to ensure that no girl is deprived of education,” he asserted.

On the occasion, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains thanked CM Bhagwant Singh Mann for initiating an education revolution in Punjab. “The impact of these reforms is visible in every school. In 2022, out of 28 lakh students in government schools, nearly four lakh had to sit on the ground. Today, not a single child is without proper seating,” he said, adding that free bus services for girl students are benefiting nearly 10,000 schoolgirls every day.

Meanwhile, newly recruited teachers shared their experiences during the event. Nitin from Malout said that his lifelong dream had come true. “I was selected as a police constable in 2025, but I chose to work harder to become a teacher,” he said, expressing gratitude to CM Bhagwant Singh Mann for the opportunity.

Navpreet Kaur from Gurdaspur, who had earlier worked as a Special Educator in a private school, said that joining government service through a fair, merit-based process was a dream come true. A woman teacher from Fazilka said she had waited 12 years for a government job, and her long wait had finally ended, while Shilpa from Patiala also shared her appreciation with the gathering.

Among those present on the occasion were Education Secretary Anindita Mitra, Director of Higher Education H.S. Brar, Director of Secondary Education Gurinder Singh Sodhi, and other senior officials.