The Punjab government is planning to roll out ‘Khed Pitara’, a play-based learning kit, in public primary schools to make learning joyful and meaningful for young students, according to an official statement.
The statement on Saturday said “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.”
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said ‘Khed Pitara’ will ensure that children do not see school as pressure but as a space for discovery, creativity and confidence-building. He said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building strong academic foundations that will benefit the state for decades.
The government is investing about Rs 9.3 crore in the initiative, which will benefit nearly 7.5 lakh children studying in the foundational stage across Punjab, the statement said. The initiative aims to transform classrooms from nursery to Class 2 into engaging and child-centred spaces. It will promote play-based learning through exploration, interaction and hands-on activities, the statement added. It is also being described as a first-of-its-kind initiative being implemented by the Punjab government at this scale.
All printed material in the kits will be provided in Punjabi so that young children across the state can understand and learn better. ‘Khed Pitara’ is a comprehensive learning and teaching kit designed for children aged 3 to 8 years, covering nursery to Class 2, the statement said. The kit promotes experiential and activity-based learning. It encourages children to learn through play, interaction and exploration rather than rote memorisation.
By shifting the focus away from rote learning to activity-based engagement, the state government hopes to nurture curiosity, creativity and confidence in young learners from the start of their educational journey, laying a strong foundation for Punjab’s future workforce and leadership.
Through this initiative, classrooms are expected to become more interactive, inclusive and child-friendly, allowing children to learn naturally through play and exploration. The kit is designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, improve language and communication skills, encourage 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 take part in storytelling, games, hands-on activities and collaborative tasks, making the learning process more natural and enjoyable.
The kits will be distributed to around 12,856 government primary schools by April 1. They include age-appropriate materials 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.
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