In a historic and visionary step to secure and empower the future of millions of students in Punjab, the Bhagwant Mann government has brought about a massive reform in the education sector. The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has implemented comprehensive changes in its decades-old question paper system. The primary goal of these changes is to move school education beyond mere rote learning and to evaluate students’ deep understanding, critical thinking, analytical capacity, and real-life skills.
The Mann government’s clear objective is that the purpose of education is not just to grant degrees, but to fully prepare the youth for the challenges of the 21st century. With this aim, a three-day workshop involving over 120 academicians and subject-matter experts was organized under the leadership of PSEB Chairman, Dr. Amar Pal Singh. Under this initiative, capacity-based learning (Competency-Based Learning) will be promoted, reducing the tendency to cram. This directly means that students will now be able to think, comprehend, analyze, and solve problems creatively, instead of merely memorizing facts.
The Board has released a new, modern format for question papers based on the Revised Bloom Taxonomy. This new framework will ensure that questions do not merely focus on recalling information but examine the students’ deep comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity. All question papers will now be prepared based on a clear ‘Blueprint’ and ‘Item Matrix,’ making the evaluation process more fair and transparent. To increase real-life relevance, questions based on real-life examples will be included in major subjects like Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and English, allowing students to learn the practical application of the knowledge gained in the classroom.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has made another significant announcement. To encourage self-employment and make the state’s youth self-reliant, the PSEB has finalized the *Entrepreneurship course for the 12th grade. This course will encourage students to become Job Creators instead of job seekers.
These comprehensive reforms will lay the foundation for a brighter future for millions of students in approximately 13,000 government and private schools across Punjab. The Bhagwant Mann government is bringing about a transformation in Punjab’s education system that will turn children into competent and skilled citizens rather than just degree holders.
With these steps, the Punjab government has sent a clear message that it is committed to providing every child in the state with global-level education, modern skills, and a bright future.
