Punjab's soil has, for centuries, encapsulated within itself the fragrance of knowledge, endurance, and hard work. The thinkers from here have considered education not merely as a means of employment, but as the foundation of human development. But today's reality is completely opposite to this historical thinking. Punjab's youth, in large numbers, is being forced to leave their home, their village, their state, and sometimes even their country, in the name of education. This is not just a desire to go abroad, but it raises serious questions on the direction of the state's education system, employment structure, and social consciousness.
For the past one decade, thousands of students from Punjab have been heading towards Canada, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and other European countries. In most cases, this journey begins with the search for high-quality education, but the real reasons are quite deep and complex. The outdatedness of curriculum in Punjab's colleges and universities, lack of research, absence of connection with industry, and weak linkage with jobs are shaking the confidence of the youth. Students feel that even after years of study, they neither get suitable jobs nor economic security.
In this situation, foreign education has become not just an option, but a way of survival. In foreign countries, students get clear curriculum, practical experience, and opportunities to work after studies. These facilities attract Punjabi youth, even if the cost is in the form of selling family land, taking loans, or enduring social pressure.
The condition of government educational institutions makes this problem even more serious. Due to shortage of teachers, vacant posts, lack of basic infrastructure, and administrative indifference, government colleges and universities are slowly losing their trustworthy image. On the other hand, private institutions do not provide any guarantee of quality despite high fees. Because of this, education has become a huge economic burden for middle-class and farmer families.
In this entire scene, the role of coaching centers and the immigration industry cannot be ignored. In the towns and cities of Punjab, offices selling foreign dreams are abundant. Advertisements for IELTS, PTE, and foreign visas in every street and neighborhood send the message to the young mind that the only way to success is to leave the country. This mentality is affecting not just education, but social values as well.
This trend can have dangerous consequences for Punjab in the long term. First of all, this is intellectual brain drain, where the state's most energetic and educated class is going out. Second, it is having a deep impact on family and social structure. Parents are left alone in old age, the vibrancy of villages decreases, and instability increases in society. Third, the state's economy is being deprived of its productive young power.
The question is not why the youth is going abroad, the question is why he does not want to stay in Punjab. The answer to this lies in the lack of policies, intention, and implementation. It is necessary to connect education with employment, turn universities into research centers, increase industrial investment, and create opportunities for suitable and stable jobs for the youth. Merely making agreements with foreign universities will not solve this problem.
It is essential to understand that education should not be a ticket to go abroad, but a means to strengthen society. Until Punjab regains faith in its own education system and gives the youth respect, opportunities, and future in their own state itself, this migration will not stop. The youth leaving home may be an individual decision, but its causes and consequences are the responsibility of the entire society.

-Davinder Kumar