Chandigarh, June 1 -- Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said his government was turning Punjab into the country's leading education destination and reversing the long-held perception that quality education can only be found abroad. Pointing to Punjab's rise past Kerala in national education rankings, the growing dominance of girls among board toppers and the success of 359 government school students in JEE Main, Mann said the state's "sikhya kranti" (education revolution) had begun delivering tangible results on the ground. Speaking at the "Sitaare Zameen Te" programme in Chandigarh, where top-performing Class 8, 10 and 12 students were honoured, Mann said Punjab's government schools were no longer struggling for recognition but were setting new benchmarks for excellence, confidence and opportunity across the country. "Due to the dedicated efforts of your government, Punjab's government schools are surpassing even Kerala in the field of education," he said while addressing students. "My message to the students is simple: no matter how successful you become in life, always remain grounded. Always respect your teachers and parents, because even a winner has to bow down to receive a medal. My heartfelt best wishes to all of you for a bright and successful future," he added. "You should strive to become grassrooters in life and not parachuters. Grassrooters rise from the ground through hard work and determination and go on to conquer the world. For hardworking individuals, the sky is the limit. Parachuters, on the other hand, descend from the sky and are destined to fall. Your focus should always be on excellence and our government will provide every possible support to help you achieve your goals," he added. In his address, education minister Harjot Singh Bains said, "When I assumed office, nearly 4 lakh children in Punjab were studying while sitting on the floor. Today, due to the concerted efforts of the Punjab government, not a single child has to sit on the floor to study. Punjab is now securing top positions in almost every national report related to the education sector." Former Delhi deputy chief minister and AAP's Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in the country's examination system. He said,"The outdated examination system in the country must be replaced. Incidents like the leakage of examinations such as NEET are ruining the futures of countless students. Instead of relying on a system rooted in the 19th century, examinations should evaluate the overall competence and capabilities of students rather than confining assessment to a three-hour test."...