EDUCATION STATUS

India constitutes approximately 2% geographical area (G.A) of the world and it is second populous country of the world after China. The state of Punjab constitutes 1.5% G.A of India and has a population of 2.4 crores which is equivalent to the population of Australia i.e three times bigger than India. During Pre-Independence Era, Punjab has only one University i.e Punjab University, Lahore. Now Punjab has seven Universities and 19000 Govt. / Govt. Aided Schools where 27 Lacs students take their education upto Senior Secondary level. There are 10 Lacs more students which are studying in private schools. In the School Education Department there is an establishment of 1.25 Lacs teachers. Disturbed condition in Punjab since 1980 onwards effected the economy of Punjab State adversely and School Education particularly. In Rural areas, the conditions were worse where teachers migrated to cities with the result Punjab State slipped in Education down the position on all India basis (From 4th position to 17th position). The scarce resources of the State were used to curb the militancy and correspondingly attention could not be paid to Education. At present there are 22000 posts of teachers lying vacant. Now Punjab Govt. has concentrated its all efforts in spite of tight budget position to fill up 9998 vacant posts of the teachers by making new recruitment in the Ist Phase. For uplifting of the Rural Education and to help the talented students of the weaker section of the society.Adarsh Schools have been planned in the rural areas. Apart from this Rs. 50 Lacs grant will be given for infrastructural development to 3 rural schools in each assembly constituency. A new scheme for talented and meritorious students of economically weaker sections of the society has been planned where students will be given scholarships and Govt. Aid to complete education in the school of their choice. Govt. is making all efforts on reducing the drop out rate from 25.1% to 0% and uplifting literacy rate of 69.95% to more than 80%.