The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has faced significant backlash from the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) regarding its recent mandate that requires digital birth certificates for student registration starting in the academic year 2026-27. The DTF has labeled this policy as “unreasonable” and has called for its retraction.
To facilitate student admissions for grades VIII through XII, the education board has introduced an online registration system. Schools are now required to maintain a digital admission and withdrawal register, which necessitates entering student details, including admission numbers and dates, based on previously handwritten records. This digital register must be electronically signed and submitted by a specified deadline, with no late entries accepted.
According to the board’s guidelines, students born in Punjab are expected to provide a digital version of their birth certificates, which must be obtained from designated service centers and verified automatically online. In contrast, for students born outside of Punjab, school administrators will be responsible for verifying the birth certificates prior to their inclusion in the portal.
The leaders of the teachers’ organization, including state president Vikramdev Singh, general secretary Mahinder Kauriyanwali, and finance secretary Ashwani Awasthi, have criticized this requirement as discriminatory. They argue that imposing the digital birth certificate condition solely on residents of Punjab is unjust and will invalidate previously issued manual birth certificates, forcing parents to navigate bureaucratic hurdles to obtain digital copies.
Furthermore, they pointed out that under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, schools are permitted to admit students using alternative documentation if proof of birth is not available. They contend that making digital certificates compulsory undermines this flexibility and will unnecessarily complicate the admission process for both school administrators and parents.
The DTF also raised concerns about the necessity of requiring digital birth certificates for students who are already registered with the board in Class VIII as they transition to higher classes, deeming this requirement excessive.
The Democratic Teachers’ Front has urged the PSEB to maintain the current system, which allows school officials to verify documents and record dates of birth as needed. They have called for the board to rescind what they describe as the “unjustified condition” of mandatory digital birth certificates.
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