Schools don’t magically become smarter just by renaming them as ‘smart schools,’ says Education Minister
-Harjot Singh Bains has sanctioned a grant of Rs 50 lakh and ordered the transformation of Government Primary School Masol within a month
Chandigarh, October 12,
School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday expressed his disappointment with the previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments for neglecting schools in Punjab. He emphasized that the deplorable state of Government Primary School Masol is proof that successive governments had completely disregarded the education system.
Today, Minister Harjot Singh Bains conducted an inspection in the village of Masol in Punjab, adjacent to Chandigarh. Despite being designated a ‘smart school’ by the Congress government, this school lacked essential facilities, including classrooms, drinking water, sanitation systems, and a boundary wall.
The School Education Minister stated that it’s now clear why Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP opposed the education reforms initiated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in Punjab. He castigated these parties for merely labeling schools as ‘smart’ without addressing the real needs of students. He pointed out that previous governments had often boasted about the quality of education in Punjab, but a recent NASS (NAS) report revealed that 50 percent of government school students lacked proficiency in languages. Students at Government Primary School Masol were unable to read Punjabi, Hindi, and English. He said that a school building constructed in 1990 had fallen into disrepair, unnoticed by any education minister over the last three decades.
Pertinently, the Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains took the initiative to clean the school, deploying NREGA workers for support. During the cleaning process, two unused computers were discovered, which had been lying dormant in the school for the past three years.
Additionally, the Minister freed the illegal encroachment on the school’s land. Upon interaction, it became evident that even fourth and fifth-grade students were unable to read Punjabi, Hindi, and English.
Expressing his displeasure, the Minister ordered the suspension of two long-serving teachers and the immediate appointment of new teacher.
Upon hearing about the Minister’s visit, village women gathered to express their gratitude for his visit, as they had long hoped for his presence at their village school. The Minister of School Education has ordered immediate release of a grant of Rs 50 lakh to ameliorate the condition of Government Primary School Masol, along with plans to provide transportation facilities for students pursuing further studies.