Education Minister allocates Rs 36 cr for school infra projects

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, announced a mega bonanza of Rs 36 crore for school infrastructure projects.

This initiative is a part of the ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’, launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, aimed at equipping government schools with world-class facilities to foster excellence and student well-being. The announced projects will modernise educational facilities across Ludhiana, with a focus on creating state-of-the-art learning environments for students at government schools.

The key initiatives under the project, include Rs 17 crore for comprehensive upgrades at the Shaheed-e-Azam Sukhdev Thapar School of Eminence in Bharat Nagar, where construction is already underway, and Rs 3 crore for the School of Eminence in Jawahar Nagar. Additionally, the government senior secondary schools at Gobind Nagar and Cemetery Road will each receive Rs 2 crore to be developed into Schools of Brilliance, ensuring advanced infrastructure for students.

The Government High School in Haibowal Kalan will get Rs 1.5 crore, while the government primary and senior secondary school in Sunet and the Government High School in Barewal Awana will each receive Rs 50 lakh for facility upgrades.

To prioritise student well-being, the Government Primary School, PAU campus, and the Government Primary School, Gobind Nagar, will be transformed into Schools of Happiness with a combined investment of Rs 2 crore, creating joyful and engaging learning spaces.

Since the AAP came into power in 2022, education and healthcare have been top the priorities of the state government, said the minister. He also highlighted that 260 government school students cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), reflecting the improved quality of education in the state’s government schools. No student in Punjab’s government schools sits on the floor, with adequate furniture and facilities provided state-wide. The government is spending over Rs 2,000 crore to transform government schools, with 12 per cent of the state’s 2025-26 budget being allocated to education—the highest percentage in the state’s history.

Minister Bains criticised previous administrations for neglecting the education sector and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing a robust educational ecosystem. “Our vision is to provide every child with access to world-class infrastructure and quality education, ensuring they can compete on a global stage,” he stated.

MP Arora expressed gratitude to the Punjab Government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for their dedication to transforming government schools into centres of excellence.

Ludhiana