In a transformative step that reflects a bold and forward-looking vision for Punjab’s future, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is set to introduce ‘Khed Pitara’, a comprehensive play-based learning kit, across Government Primary Schools to ensure joyful and meaningful learning for young students. Far more than a classroom intervention, this initiative represents a long-term investment in Punjab’s human capital. By focusing on children between the ages of 3 and 8, the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government is strengthening the very foundation of learning at a stage that determines future academic success, confidence and cognitive development.
What is Khed Pitara?
Khed Pitara is a comprehensive play-based Learning-Teaching Material kit designed for children aged 3 to 8 years, covering Nursery to Class 2. The kit promotes experiential, activity-based and joyful learning by enabling children to learn through play, exploration and interaction rather than memorisation. By shifting the focus from rote learning to activity-based engagement, the Bhagwant Government is nurturing curiosity, creativity and confidence in young learners from the very beginning of their educational journey, laying a strong foundation that will shape Punjab’s future workforce and leadership.
How the Initiative Will Help Students
Through Khed Pitara, classrooms will become more interactive, inclusive and child-friendly by enabling learning through play and exploration. The kit is designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, improve language and communication skills, foster creativity and imagination, develop problem-solving abilities, support social and emotional growth and reduce stress and fear associated with early schooling. Instead of passive learning, children will participate in storytelling, games, hands-on activities and collaborative tasks that make learning natural and enjoyable.
What the Kit Contains
The kit includes age-appropriate learning materials for early grades such as toys and manipulatives, puzzles and games, story cards and flash cards, posters and activity books, puppets and play materials, along with teacher resource materials. Each component supports key developmental areas including language, numeracy, creativity and social learning, ensuring holistic development of children across Punjab.
Beneficiaries & Distribution*
The initiative will benefit approximately 7.5 lakh children studying in the Foundational Stage across Punjab. Khed Pitara kits will be distributed to around 12,856 Government Primary Schools across Punjab, ensuring near-universal coverage of early grade classrooms. Teachers handling Foundational Stage classes will also receive structured support through activity-based teaching materials to strengthen classroom implementation. The Bhagwant Mann Government is investing approximately 9.3 crore in this initiative. Procurement has been completed in a timely manner, distribution is in the final stage and work orders are being issued for supply to schools. The kits will be distributed to all Government Primary Schools by 1st April.
On this, Punjab’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated that the Bhagwant Mann Government believes the real transformation of education begins at the foundational stage. “By investing in children between 3 and 8 years of age, the Bhagwant Mann Government is making a strategic, long-term investment in Punjab’s future. Khed Pitara will ensure that children do not experience schooling as pressure, but as discovery, creativity and confidence-building, and that this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building strong academic foundations that will yield results for decades to come,” he added.