Chandigarh, February 26 Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced on Thursday a ₹400 crore digitalization project that will replace outdated hardware and phase out obsolete computer systems from government schools.
Bains said the initiative, under ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’ (Punjab Education Revolution), will equip government schools with state-of-the-art technology and redefine classroom teaching across the state.
Sharing details, he said, "As many as 38,649 brand-new desktop computers equipped with the latest software are being deployed across 5,012 government schools."
These will be distributed to all senior secondary and high schools, and 50 percent of middle schools, ensuring that students have access to the latest hardware and technology, he added.
Dedicated computer labs will be established in 5,000 government schools, ensuring that all secondary and senior secondary government schools have fully functional computer labs, the minister said.
He said, "To foster interactive learning, we are installing 8,268 interactive flat panels in 3,694 schools. Every senior secondary and high school will receive these panels, with larger schools receiving four, five or even eight units based on student strength."
This massive infusion of technology ensures that digital literacy and smart learning are no longer the privileges of private institutions but the fundamental right of every student in Punjab's public school system, Bains added.
Describing the move as a decisive shift from traditional chalkboards to technology-driven smart classrooms, the minister noted, "The move would phase out obsolete computer systems. For too long, our students were working on computers so outdated that they barely functioned, still running on old versions of Microsoft Paint. We are changing it permanently."
He emphasised that implementation has already begun and is not a future promise. "This is not just an announcement for tomorrow; deliveries have already begun in schools today. By March 20, every school in every district of Punjab will receive their new equipment," he added.
Bains reiterated that the mass-scale rollout of interactive flat panels marks a structural shift in pedagogy and said it will fundamentally change how lessons are delivered, understood and experienced.
Responding to a query regarding teacher eligibility test (TET) qualification, the minister said, "I want to assure every teacher, your jobs are secure. No one will lose their job."
He said he understands the anxiety among experienced teachers who have been serving for 20 to 25 years and assured that legal solutions are being explored.
The minister added that he remains in constant touch with teacher unions and is exploring every legal avenue.
The Supreme Court last year made TET mandatory for all serving teachers in schools. The apex court in September 2025 ruled that all in-service teachers who have not passed the eligibility test will have to acquire the qualification within two years to continue in service.
However, those teachers who have less than five years' service left may continue in service without qualifying the TET.