Over 17.5 Lakh Parents Join Punjab’s Mega School Workshop Across Government Schools

Punjab: In a large-scale community outreach effort, the Punjab School Education Department organised its second Statewide School-Level Parents’ Workshop across all government schools on Saturday. The drive saw participation from more than 17.5 lakh parents, making it one of the biggest parent-engagement exercises the state has carried out in recent years.

What was the goal behind the workshop?

According to Harjot Singh Bains, the idea was simple but important. Schools cannot work in isolation, and parents need to be active partners in their children’s learning journey.

The initiative aimed to strengthen collaboration between families and schools while improving overall education standards across Punjab.

How does this fit into the government’s bigger education plan?

The programme was spearheaded by the State Council of Educational Research and Training Punjab and is part of the state’s larger reform push under the Punjab Sikhya Kranti.

The government, led by Bhagwant Singh Mann, sees parental involvement as a key pillar in raising academic outcomes and building a supportive environment for children both at school and at home.

What happened on the ground during the sessions?

At each school, structured sessions lasting around one to one-and-a-half hours were conducted.

Parents were guided on:

• Helping children prepare for exams without stress
• Building confidence through positive encouragement
• Identifying early signs of drug abuse and prevention strategies under Punjab’s anti-drug campaign
• The workshops focused on practical, everyday steps parents can take rather than just theory.

Where did the minister participate personally?

Minister Harjot Singh Bains himself led a session at Government High School, Manakpur in the Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency. He interacted directly with parents and students, listening to their concerns and sharing ways to better support children’s academic and emotional well-being.

Who else joined the initiative?

The programme saw strong political and administrative participation. Several cabinet ministers, including Dr. Baljit Kaur, Lalchand Kataruchak, Tarunpreet Singh Sond and Hardeep Singh Mundian, along with more than 40 MLAs, conducted sessions in their constituencies.

Their presence, officials said, sent a strong message that education reform is a shared responsibility.

How was such a large event managed?

Behind the scenes, the department rolled out extensive preparations.

Over 3,000 senior officers, including Directors and District Education Officers, were deployed to monitor the programme. Around 40,000 teachers were trained in advance to lead the workshops effectively. This ensured that every school followed a consistent format and delivered meaningful engagement.

Why is this initiative being seen as significant?

With participation from 100 percent of government schools and lakhs of parents in a single day, the workshop marked a rare moment of large-scale community involvement in education.

Officials believe this model of direct dialogue between schools and families can create lasting impact, not just in academics but also in students’ overall well-being.

In simple terms, the message was clear. When parents and schools work together, children benefit the most.