Over 23 Lakh Parents Participate in Punjab’s 4th Mega PTM, Strengthening School–Parent Partnership

Punjab's School Education Department on Saturday witnessed an unprecedented response to its 4th Mega Parents Teachers Meeting (PTM) and Parents' Workshop, with more than 23.30 lakh parents participating across government schools, making it one of the largest parent engagement initiatives in the state.

The state-wide programme was led by Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, who presided over the PTM at Government Senior Secondary School (Girls) in Sri Anandpur Sahib. As part of the initiative, over 7,500 schools were visited by MLAs, Deputy Commissioners, senior officers of the Education Department, the Director SCERT and the Director School Education.

Addressing parents and teachers, Bains said the School Education Department has been reaching new milestones under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said the Punjab government is strengthening parent-school partnerships through such initiatives under the theme "Maa Peyo di Bhagidari" (Parents' Partnership), highlighting the crucial role of parents in improving learning outcomes.

The Education Minister said the large-scale programme reflects the government's continued focus on improving education quality by actively involving parents in their children's academic journey. He informed that more than 40,000 teachers-at least one from each government school-have been trained at block and cluster levels to conduct structured Parents' Workshops.

According to Bains, trained teachers conducted interactive sessions during the workshops, while members of School Management Committees (SMCs) played a key role in mobilising parents, coordinating activities and providing on-ground support. These efforts helped parents better understand their role in supporting their children's academic, emotional and social development.

Parents of students from pre-primary to senior secondary classes participated in the initiative, making it one of the biggest parent education engagement drives ever undertaken in Punjab. The workshops, lasting between one and one-and-a-half hours, were followed by Mega PTMs and were implemented using a common workshop design, SMC-led meeting plans and informative handouts for parents.

Bains said the objective of the workshops was to strengthen parents' understanding of their responsibilities in children's learning, encourage positive engagement at home and school, and build stronger collaboration among parents, teachers and SMCs to ensure holistic child development.

He added that the initiative would further strengthen parent-school partnerships by creating a shared understanding of responsibilities in supporting students' learning and well-being. Enhanced coordination between home and school, he said, would help improve academic performance, regular attendance and emotional health of students.

The Education Minister said PTM discussions began with appreciation of students' efforts and parental support, setting a positive tone for dialogue. Teachers and parents held detailed discussions on students' interests, aspirations and learning gaps, while also exchanging feedback.

For the first time in Punjab, Bains noted, parents were provided clear information on academic goals and upcoming initiatives, along with practical guidance on how they can support learning at home, marking a significant step towards inclusive and participatory school education.