Punjab Govt approves plans to restructure Ghudda’s Government Sports Senior Secondary School by integrating education and sports departments to improve training and academics.

A significant reorganization is planned for the Punjab Govt , Sports Senior Secondary School, a trailblazing establishment created to develop athletic talent in remote regions, after the state government’s in-principle agreement to combine the education and sports ministries. The objective of this action is to improve student academic achievement and athletic training while streamlining school administration.

Founded in 2010 to find and develop gifted athletes in rural areas, the residential school is situated in Ghudda, Bathinda, and was the idea of the late Parkash Singh Badal, the previous chief minister.

Under the ex-officio leadership of the Bathinda deputy commissioner (DC), a local committee is in charge of managing the institute.

14 coaches and seven teachers have been approved for positions at the institution. The residential school provides pupils in Classes 6–12 with 11 different indoor and outdoor activities, such as swimming, volleyball, and wrestling.

The school only has five teachers and seven coaches, according to the report, and the principal is appointed by the education department.

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Officials point the finger at the state government’s plan, which included minimal involvement from the sports department in managing the sports institute.

The DC of Bathinda A new approach, according to Rajesh Dhiman, will give the sports department a direct leadership role in training pupils through its coaches.

The DC expressed the opinion that the current system for running the institute needs to be changed in order to strengthen it by making both academics and athletics more efficient.

While precise modalities are being worked on, the state authorities have agreed in principle. “We anticipate receiving an official notification in this regard shortly,” Dhiman added.

“Contractual employees of the institute obtained a stay order after submitting a plea for job regularization to the Punjab and Haryana high court. The coaches and teachers may be reemployed under the new plan that has been offered, and we are working to resolve the issue. Due to a stay order, the school management committee was unable to make any plans. However, the government has now approved turning the school into a special school with the help of the education and sports departments,” the DC continued.

Coaches and teachers are engaged on a contract basis, and the institute is run by the education department.

According to official sources, the idea of starting a local sports school was first started as an experiment, but as time went on, it ran into financial difficulties paying personnel on time and maintaining the students’ food and dorm.

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A ₹15 crore fixed deposit was established when the institution was opened in 2010 by the SAD-BJP government. Due to financial constraints, the school relies on ₹30 lakh in interest payments from the bank on the FD every quarter, which is not enough to cover costs, according to education department officials.

Admission to the school, which has 300 places, is determined by the results of various athletic competitions.

It is said that only 105 students were admitted for this semester. The sports trial timetable was disrupted, according to people with knowledge of the situation, because of limitations put in place because of Operation Sindoor in May of this year.

Many students were unable to get to the trial locations, it was noted. An official expressed confidence that the upcoming academic session would see a rise in the acceptance rate.

According to acting school administrator Narinder Singh, the school has begun renovations after receiving ₹3 million from the government and an additional ₹2 crore for sports facilities and hostel upkeep through corporate social responsibility (CSR).