In a jarring revelation that shatters the image of Haryana’s educational progress, the latest Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2024-25 report released recently by the Union Education Ministry has exposed a harsh reality: Gurugram, the state’s crown jewel, is performing worse than Punjab’s lowest-ranked district, Patiala.While Gurugram is globally recognised as a hub of some of the high-end and international schools in the country, there is an alarming gap in the quality of education within its public school system, a divide that demands urgent government attention.The data is telling. While Patiala has secured a score of 383, Gurugram — often projected as the pinnacle of development — trails behind with a score of 375. The comparison highlights a deep-seated disparity, demonstrating that even Haryana’s most resource-rich district cannot match the government school outcomes of Punjab’s lowest-performing district.The internal divide within Haryana is equally stark. Panchkula emerges as the state’s top performer with a score of 373. Yet, the gap between the top and bottom districts remains vast. Nuh, one of the state’s most backward districts, languishes at the bottom with a score of 275. This score is alarmingly low and mirrors educational performance levels often associated with some of the most disadvantaged regions in states like Bihar, underlining a serious challenge to equitable development.A closer look at the district-level data paints a troubling picture across the state. Panchkula leads Haryana with a score of 373. Mid-range districts such as Karnal (365), Jind (360) and Kurukshetra (358) show varying levels of performance, yet all remain well below the benchmarks required to ensure quality education. Districts such as Sonipat (352), Rohtak (347) and Ambala (341) continue to occupy the middle ground, struggling to improve further.The bottom tier remains a concern, with Palwal (319) and Nuh (275) representing the tail end of the spectrum, where shortcomings in infrastructure and governance continue to hamper educational outcomes.The overall state performance has also declined. Haryana’s score slipped from 591.4 in 2023-24 to 587.1 in 2024-25, causing its national ranking to fall from eighth to 14th. This 4.3-point drop has placed the state in the Prachesta-3 grade.The metrics reveal deeper concerns. Haryana scored only 79.9 out of 240 in “Learning Outcomes and Quality” and a dismal 47.1 out of 130 in governance processes. The disconnect is evident. While Haryana’s private education sector thrives, the public education system, as reflected in the performance of districts such as Nuh, Gurugram and even the top-ranked Panchkula, is struggling to provide a uniform, high-quality educational foundation for students.