Chandigarh, April 10
The Punjab government has rolled out a statewide attendance-tracking system under its flagship foundational learning programme, Mission Samrath 4.0. Parents will now receive daily SMS alerts about their children’s school attendance. Announcing the initiative, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains described it as the next major step in Punjab’s Sikhya Kranti. He said that after securing the top rank in the PARAKH survey, Punjab is now shifting focus from recognition to stronger classroom results through better accountability and improved teaching methods. Bains said the education budget has been increased from Rs 12,657 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 19,279 crore in 2026-27.
According to him, the increased funding is helping bring visible improvements in government schools, from infrastructure development to better learning outcomes. As part of Mission Samrath 2026-27, the new attendance-tracking system will send parents a daily SMS confirming whether their child attended school. Parents will also receive an alert whenever their child is absent. The minister said that if a student remains absent for seven consecutive days, district officials will contact the parents directly. If the absence continues beyond 15 days, the matter will be reported to the state headquarters. He said the system has been designed to improve attendance, ensure continuity in learning and strengthen child safety.
Highlighting the programme’s success, Bains said Mission Samrath has already transformed classroom learning in the state. He added that the latest phase will focus on improving teaching quality, monitoring attendance and spreading effective classroom practices to ensure every child develops strong foundational skills. The minister also pointed to improvements in school facilities under the Bhagwant Mann government. He said every senior secondary school with more than 500 students now has a campus manager, while schools with over 100 students have been provided with security guards and sanitation staff.
Explaining the aim of Mission Samrath 4.0, Bains said the programme is designed to help students in classes 3 to 8 become proficient in reading, writing and mathematics. He added that Punjab has performed above the national average in foundational learning by 18 per cent in class 3 and by 26 to 28 per cent in class 6. During the event, Bains and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia released the Mission Samrath Compendium, a document featuring 38 successful classroom practices created by Punjab teachers.
These practices will now be introduced across government schools to improve learning, especially for students who need extra support. Speaking about the value of the SMS alert system, Sisodia said that a simple message confirming that a child has safely reached school can provide parents with reassurance and accountability that is more meaningful than big promises.
According to Bains, Mission Samrath has grown into one of India’s largest foundational learning programmes, covering nearly 12 lakh students and involving more than 70,000 teachers every year. He said the programme’s method of grouping students by learning level rather than class has played a major role in Punjab achieving the top position in the PARAKH rankings. Bains concluded by saying that while not every child may go on to study at premier institutions, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind. He said every child represents hope, and that hope must never fall below the minimum standard.
The attendance-tracking system is expected to boost regular attendance, enhance learning continuity, and improve child safety across government schools in Punjab. Officials said the initiative will be scaled up statewide, with strict monitoring at the district and state levels to ensure better outcomes under Mission Samrath 4.0.
