‘Sikhya Kranti’ Under Fire: Teachers and Experts Accuse Punjab Government of Rebranding Old Projects as New

• Apr 22, 2025

The Punjab government’s high-profile ‘Sikhya Kranti’ education campaign is facing growing criticism from education experts and government school teachers, who allege that many of the recently inaugurated projects are not new developments, but rather routine maintenance or previously completed works being repackaged for publicity.

Teachers and sources within the Education Department claim that much of what is being showcased as new infrastructure under the campaign had either been completed over a year ago or was initiated during the previous Congress regime. Many of these projects were also funded through the Central government’s Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), or with contributions from NRIs and NGOs, rather than by the state government itself.

For example, at Government Primary School (Girls), Basti Sheikh, a modern classroom and flooring project valued at ₹2.65 lakh was recently inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Mahinder Bhagat. However, sources revealed the work had been completed almost a year earlier using SSA funds. Similarly, at Government Primary School in Gazipur Adampur, two modern classrooms were inaugurated as part of the ‘Sikhya Kranti’ campaign, despite being constructed with external funding from NRIs and NGOs, not the state or central government.

In Shahkot block, a teacher reported being instructed to repaint an existing classroom at Mandala Chhana Government School—originally constructed in 2019 under the Congress-led Smart School initiative—and prepare it for a fresh inauguration. Teachers say they were also directed to organize elaborate inaugural functions with over 200 guests on a tight ₹20,000 budget, often requiring them to cover costs from their own pockets. “Even if we are promised reimbursement, the actual expenses far exceed what's allocated,” one teacher said.

At Government Primary School in Bila Nawab, Nakodar, projects claimed to be worth several lakhs were recently inaugurated, yet the school reportedly received only ₹23,000 in grants over the past year. Other questionable inaugurations include a ₹7.51 lakh smart cluster room at Government Middle Smart School, Basti Sheikh; a similarly priced smart classroom at Government Primary School (Girls), Basti Guzan; and ₹19.47 lakh worth of repairs and upgrades at Government Primary School, Kot Sadiq. Teachers argue that these “developments” largely involve superficial work like painting walls, fixing benches, or renovating toilets.

Jalandhar North MLA Bawa Henry echoed these concerns, urging the state government to focus on meaningful infrastructural improvements rather than cosmetic showcases. He pointed out that two state-of-the-art, air-conditioned government schools built at a cost of ₹3 crore each in Bhagat Singh Colony and Burlton Park have yet to open. “Meanwhile, nearby schools like the one in Gandhi Camp are overcrowded, with over 1,000 students crammed into inadequate facilities. Shifting students to these unused schools would reflect true educational progress,” he said.

Defending the government’s efforts, senior AAP leader and JIT Chairperson Rajwinder Kaur Thiara credited Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for recent advancements in education. She insisted that only newly completed projects and state-funded renovations were being inaugurated, asserting that improving government education remains a top priority for the Aam Aadmi Party.

Cabinet Minister Mahinder Bhagat, who presided over several inaugurations, was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to reach him.

As discontent grows among educators and questions mount over transparency and accountability, critics argue that the true spirit of ‘Sikhya Kranti’ can only be realised through genuine investment in long-term, impactful educational infrastructure—not through repackaged inaugurations and political optics.