Chandigarh, 30 January 2025: Government schools in Punjab are witnessing a steady rise in enrollment and learning outcomes, surpassing private institutions in improvements in reading and arithmetic skills between 2022 and 2024, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) released by Pratham.
The report indicates a significant increase in preschool enrollment across all three age groups (3-5 years), with more children opting for government-run early education programs. “Importantly, the enrollment in government pre-primary has increased from 2022 to 2024,” said Banishwar Singh, manager of Pratham’s Measurement, Monitoring, and Evaluation Unit.
He added that arithmetic proficiency in Class 3 students had improved, with the percentage of children able to perform at least subtraction rising from 44.8% in 2022 to 51.1% in 2024. “Interestingly, this progress is being led by government schools, while private schools have recorded a minor decline,” Singh mentioned, noting similar trends in reading abilities.
Punjab Ahead in Digital Adoption
Punjab also surpasses the national average in digital access and literacy among adolescents. According to ASER, 96.2% of children aged 14-16 in Punjab have access to a smartphone at home, compared to the national average of 89.1%.
Performance in digital tasks further reflects this trend. “Nationally, 76.9% of children in this age group can set an alarm on a smartphone, while in Punjab, this figure is 87.8%,” Singh said. Similarly, 85.4% of Punjab’s adolescents can browse the internet for information, exceeding the national figure of 79.3%. The state also leads in YouTube navigation, with 92.5% of children able to find a video, compared to 87% nationwide.
Preschool Enrollment Nears Universal Access
Punjab is making strides toward the National Education Policy’s goal of universal preschool access, with 85% of children now enrolled in early education programs. “At age three, the national preschool enrollment average is 77.4%, while in Punjab, it stands at 85.9%,” Singh stated, noting that more families are choosing government-run preschool centers like Anganwadi centers.
Shift to Government Schools Continues Post-COVID
The report also highlights a major shift in school preferences post-pandemic, with government schools in Punjab continuing to gain student enrollment despite economic recovery.
Before COVID-19, 52.2% of children in Punjab were enrolled in private schools, while 46.7% attended government schools. The trend reversed in 2022, with 58% of students moving to government schools, a shift that has remained unchanged in 2024.
“This shows that government schools are driving positive enrollment trends and gaining public trust,” Singh said.
Learning Gains Driven by Government Schools
The analysis further reveals that improvements in reading and arithmetic skills are primarily coming from government schools. In 2022, 33% of Class 3 students in government schools could read a Class 2-level text, a figure that has since risen to 34.2% in 2024.
With continued progress in both enrollment and learning outcomes, Punjab’s government schools are strengthening their role in the state’s education system.
