Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has declared 2025 as a landmark year for education reforms, announcing a series of initiatives aimed at improving learning standards across the province.

Speaking about the Education Department’s performance, the minister said that, like the previous year, 2025 marked a strong continuation of reforms focused on transparency, quality, and access to education. One of the major announcements was the decision to provide 10,000 laptops to students enrolled in private educational institutions, a move welcomed by students and parents alike.

Rana Sikandar Hayat revealed that nearly 2 million ghost enrollments had been eliminated from government records, calling it a major step towards transparency. He added that the long-standing shortage of teachers was addressed through the rationalization of 26,000 teachers, while historic reforms were carried out in syllabi and examination systems. Education boards were also strengthened to ensure fair and efficient assessments.

The minister said Punjab had proposed mandatory criminal record checks, particularly for sexual offenses, before recruiting staff in educational institutions to ensure student safety. He highlighted the government’s strong focus on Early Childhood Education, noting that ECE rooms had been established in 10,000 schools across the province.

Additionally, nutrition programs are now benefiting 1.1 million students daily, while 268 schools have been upgraded to improve infrastructure. The minister also confirmed that decisions were taken in 37 teacher harassment cases, reinforcing accountability.

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He further shared that principals have been appointed on merit in 450 colleges, while vice-chancellors have been selected for 29 universities, calling it a major step towards institutional stability and merit-based governance.