He added that Punjab has become the first state to implement a state-level career counselling and guidance programme for teachers.
Punjab becomes first state to roll out statewide teacher career-mentoring programme
Punjab has collaborated with IIT Madras Pravartak to roll out a statewide career guidance programme aimed at creating a system in which every teacher becomes a trained career mentor, according to an official release.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that over 5,000 teachers will be trained to guide students towards “informed, future-ready career choices” under the ambitious Teachers Upskilling Programme.
The education minister added that the programme will offer teachers free online training in foundational career counselling, skills for classroom sessions, and one-on-one guidance.
Under the initiative, teachers will gain access to the top 100 high-demand careers, structured assessment tools, and a comprehensive guidance framework aligned with emerging national and global career trends.
IIT Madras Pravartak will provide continuous academic support and digital resources, Bains said.
“Our goal with this collaboration is to make a meaningful impact by enabling teachers to serve as effective career mentors in their schools. Through this engagement, teachers will become the backbone of a structured career guidance ecosystem,” Bains is quoted as saying in the release.
He added that Punjab has become the first state to implement a state-level career counselling and guidance programme for teachers.
Once trained, teachers will be equipped to help students identify their strengths, explore new-age professions, and choose pathways grounded in evidence and aptitude — not guesswork or hearsay, he added.
Initiative to benefit students in rural and underserved areas:
Dr. Amarpal Singh, Chairman of PSEB, said the initiative is expected to particularly benefit students in rural and underserved areas by offering them access to high-quality guidance that was earlier limited to private counsellors.
“In the next few months, thousands of teachers will acquire new skills, new confidence, and a new ability to shape the futures of lakhs of children,” he added.
Expressing happiness over the partnership with PSEB, Srikanth, Chief Knowledge Officer of IIT Madras Pravartak, said, “Our aim is simple — no child in Punjab should make a career choice in confusion or without the right information.”
