Punjab and IIT Madras Launch Massive Teacher Training Programme for Student Career Guidance
Punjab's Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that the training will be provided free of cost through online mode.
Punjab and IIT Madras Launch Massive Teacher Training Programme for Student Career Guidance
On December 5, 2025, the Punjab Government joined hands with IIT Madras through its Pravartak unit to launch a state-level career mentorship programme. According to officials, the aim of this programme is to train more than 5,000 schoolteachers as “career mentors”.
Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that the training will be provided free of cost through online mode. Teachers will receive instructions on topics such as foundational career counselling, classroom-based mentoring skills, and one-on-one guidance to help students make informed choices about their future careers.
Under the programme, participants will get access to a curated list of the top 100 high-demand careers, structured assessment tools, and a comprehensive guidance framework which is designed to align with emerging national and global career trends. These are to ensure that students’ choices are grounded in evidence rather than hearsay.
According to government sources, this is a one-of-a-kind initiative for any Indian state to have rolled out a state-level system to formally equip schoolteachers as career counsellors. It makes Punjab the pioneer in this domain.
Amarpal Singh, Chairperson of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), said the drive is especially aimed at benefiting students in rural and underserved areas, where access to professional counselling services is limited. According to him, once the training is delivered, “thousands of teachers will acquire new skills, new confidence and a new ability to shape the futures of lakhs of children.”
Officials explained that the initiative marks a promise towards enhanced access to quality career guidance in public schools by turning teachers themselves into career mentors who can help children identify their aptitudes, explore modern and in-demand professions, and choose pathways based on evidence and suitability rather than guesswork.
According to experts, whether the programme will be able to bring a real shift will depend on its implementation, how many teachers complete training, how effectively they counsel students, and how this guidance influences actual student outcomes. Nevertheless, as of now, the announcement is a significant move by a state government to systematise career counselling in schools.
Source: Times of India