The Punjab government on April 6 launched a 54-day education campaign. This is supported by a 2,000-crore investment and aims to improve government school buildings and facilities. It will focus providing basics like clean drinking water, separate toilets for boys and girls, new desks, boundary walls, and smart classrooms.
It was announced at a Press Conference at Punjab Bhawan. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains spoke about the Punjab government’s focus to improve education.
"Punjab is entering a new era of educational reform. The aim is to turn government schools into places of opportunity. The students should have access to smart and better facilities, said Bains.
The campaign was flagged off with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Manish Sisodia. It began with the opening a School of Eminence (SoE) in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. The inauguration was followed by ministers and MLAs with over 350 events held on the first day.
Under the campaign so far Wi-Fi has been set-up at 17000 schools. This also includes schools in remote areas. It aims to ensure smart classroom facility and internet access across campus. Along with that around 6000 schools now have new or repaired boundaries. This covers 1000 km in total.
2,261 classrooms across 1,886 schools now have smart board facility. Additionally, 5,399 new classrooms have been added. This was done to adjust the growing number of students.
To ensure better and hygienic sanitation facilities , 7,166 toilets have been repaired. 2,9876 more were built in. This included over 4,800 schools.
In order to provide better facilities in classrooms, 1.64 lakh sets of desks, chairs and tables have been given to schools. This ensures no student has to sit on the floor anymore. 359 playgrounds have been built in schools across Punjab to increase sports participation
118 Senior Secondary schools were transformed to Schools of Eminence (SoE). These will act as a model of an ideal classroom. The 14 SoE are already functional. These offer better quality of academics from classes 9 to 12. They focus on better opportunity in extracurricular activities and career-oriented training.
Students will now have more subject options in Science, commerce and humanities streams. Free coaching for national level; entrance exams like NEET, JEE, CLAT and NIFT will also be provided.
Also the government aims to ensure every child gets equal support. This will be done by providing free uniform and study materials.
Bains called it as a people's revolution. He encouraged people to visit their local schools during the campaign.
This large-scale effort shows Punjab’s strong commitment to closing education gaps. It also aims to ensure every child a better chance at a bright future.
