CHANDIGARH, 23rd April 2026: Under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, the Punjab Government has partnered with Finland University of Turku, bringing visible changes to classrooms as teachers adopt more interactive practices and students show early signs of improved engagement.

As part of this initiative, teaching is steadily moving away from rote methods towards more joyful and participatory learning approaches.As part of Punjab’s Sikhya Kranti, we are adapting global expertise to local classrooms. Through a structured train-the-trainers model, we will train nearly 300 teachers by May to strengthen foundational learning across the state.”

Finland ; Mann visited the Kukulo-Moikoinen Early Childhood Education and Care Centre

During his ongoing official visit to Finland, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also visited the Kukulo-Moikoinen Early Childhood Education and Care Centre.. “This initiative is already yielding results by aligning global pedagogical expertise with local classroom realities,” said the Chief Minister.

Bhagwant Singh Mann added, “The Department of School Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training are leading this partnership to strengthen early childhood and foundational teacher development. We designed it as a long-term effort to embed child-centred, play-based, and inclusive teaching practices across the state.”

He stated, “The programme equips teachers with research-driven methods and ensures they adapt these approaches to Punjab’s socio-cultural context.” He added, “The department conducted training sessions in Chandigarh and in the Finnish cities of Turku and Rauma, combining workshops, mentoring, and school visits to expose teachers to classroom innovations in practice.” By May 2026, close to 300 teachers would have undergone training across four cohorts to benefit students from across Punjab.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also visited University of Turku

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted, “The emphasis has been on making learning joyful and participatory, moving away from rote methods towards active engagement. Teachers have also been encouraged to design context-specific projects, and with support from mentors, they are therefore able to implement these ideas effectively within their own classrooms. Feedback from the field suggests improvements in student participation and motivation, along with more inclusive classroom environments.”

He noted, “Moreover, teachers have reported greater confidence in experimenting with new methods and in adapting lessons to diverse learning needs. Notably, a distinguishing feature of the initiative has been its insistence on contextual adaptation rather than the direct transplantation of foreign models. Furthermore, continuous mentoring support from Finnish experts has enabled this transition, thereby ensuring that global best practices are meaningfully integrated into local systems.”

We are positioning this collaboration as a cornerstone of Punjab’s broader education reforms ; CM

Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also visited the University of Turku and the Turku Teacher Training School for detailed interactions. During the visit, he stated, “The government now plans to scale the programme through a train-the-trainers approach and is creating a cadre of master trainers to expand its reach across the state.” Additionally, he added, “We are also developing digital platforms and blended learning formats to support continuous professional development and widen access.”


The Chief Minister stated, “We are positioning this collaboration as a cornerstone of Punjab’s broader education reforms through a structured expansion and a growing pool of trained educators. We remain committed to strengthening public education to better equip students for success, and we will pursue similar initiatives to sustain momentum in the sector.”