Morinda (Rupnagar), October 23:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today said that the state government is making continuous efforts to secure a bright future for the youth so that they become job providers rather than job seekers.
The Chief Minister visited Shaheed Subedar Meva Singh School of Eminence here to meet with the students. Interacting with them, he said that the state government has ushered in a new era of educational revolution in Punjab. He added that this revolution is preparing students to face the competitive environment of the future and enabling them to reach new heights in life.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while unprecedented steps have been taken to provide employment to the youth, several efforts are also being made to channel their immense energy in the right direction.
The Chief Minister said that just as runways at airports help airplanes take off, the state government is helping the youth turn their dreams into reality. He said that to enable the children of Punjab to transform their aspirations into achievements and reach new heights in life, the state launched an “education revolution” in 2022. The Chief Minister added that it is painful to look back at the past and see how misguided policies had deprived poor children of their right to education.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has now taken revolutionary steps in the field of education, which are being appreciated across the country. He informed that a total of 118 Schools of Eminence are being established in the state, with an expenditure of ₹231.74 crore incurred so far. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these schools are being seen as a remarkable beginning toward securing a bright future for underprivileged children.
The Chief Minister said that students in these schools are being provided with free uniforms, and a special free bus service has been arranged for girls to ensure that not a single girl is deprived of education. He expressed hope that these schools would serve as “temples of the modern era,” providing quality education and illuminating the lives of thousands of students.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of pride that students from private schools are now seeking admission to these Schools of Eminence, which is a testament to the success of this model.
The Chief Minister informed that these students are being provided with special coaching not only for the armed forces but also for competitive exams such as NEET, JEE, CLAT, and NIFT. He said it is a matter of great pride that 265 students from the Schools of Eminence and other government schools qualified in the JEE Mains examination, 44 students cleared JEE Advanced, and 848 students succeeded in NEET.
The Chief Minister further informed that under another initiative, the “School Mentorship Program” has been launched, under which senior officers are mentoring students of government schools.
The Chief Minister said that Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) have been introduced in government schools and have received overwhelming support from parents. He added that there are currently 19,200 government schools in Punjab, and nearly 2.5 million parents have participated in these PTMs.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is making determined efforts to bridge the gap between government and private schools in the field of quality education.