Shahkot high school faces downgrade threat

Shahkot was granted a subdivision status over 37 years ago, but the town still does not have a senior secondary school. To add to the neglect, the only Government High School here, which was upgraded several years ago, is facing the threat of being downgraded to the middle level in the coming academic session.

The potential downgrade of the school threatens to deepen education crisis in the town, where over 60 per cent population relies on government-run schools.

Former principal Dhanpat Rai said the school had for long struggled due to inadequate staffing. “For five years, the Parent-Teacher Association and the Town Education Development Committee pooled in their resources to pay the salaries of teachers. In 2010, they reached a breaking point and could no longer continue funding staff from their own pockets,” he said.

A survey conducted under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) had recommended the school’s upgrade to senior secondary level. Despite repeated follow-ups, the proposal is in limbo.

Residents say they have been raising the demand for a senior secondary school during multiple election cycles — from Assembly elections to Lok Sabha polls, but successive governments have failed to deliver on the promise.

“There are 16 senior secondary schools in nearby villages, but Shahkot town has none,” said Gurjit Singh, a local activist.

The proposal for upgrade was submitted years ago to the Jalandhar District Education Officer (Secondary), but no action has been taken so far. A dealing clerk in the DEO’s office confirmed that following a recent policy update the department was asked to submit fresh proposals.

“We have included Shahkot’s school in our report, but have received no information regarding the upgrade so far,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Jalandhar