Govt to upgrade 118 Schools of Eminence

The Punjab Education Department has undertaken a major rationalisation exercise to remove infrastructural shortcomings and staff shortage at its Schools of Eminence (SoEs).

According to sources, the department had identified 118 schools for upgrade under the project.

So far, the government has completed infrastructural projects at 20 of the 118 SoEs.

The renovation work of another 26 senior secondary schools is either complete or nearing completion, an official added.

The remaining around 70 schools would get a facelift soon, a source added.

Under the initiative, the department has aimed at providing each school with at least three laboratories, adequate furniture and enough staff.

Education Minister Harjot Bains said rationalisation was a continuous process.

“We have invited applications for the appointment of teachers (at the identified schools) from the existing staff,” he said, adding that generally most teachers prefer urban centres over rural ones.

Meanwhile, a source said, in the past two days, top officials held hectic parleys with the field staff to get real-time reports of the deficiencies.

The department is also contemplating to increase sections in some of the SOEs, depending upon the student strength and infrastructural support.

This year, the state government has allocated Rs 100 crore for specialised school education projects.

260 govt school students excel in JEE (Main)

A total of 260 students from government schools have excelled in the JEE (Main), a testament to the quality education being imparted by the state government, said Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.

The minister said the students would now appear for the JEE (Advanced). The department would provide free coaching for the test to the students in SAS Nagar.

Punjab