From Chalkboards to Power Corridors: Punjab’s School Toppers Get a Day in the Life of DCs & SSPs
For the first time in Punjab’s history, government school toppers will spend a day with their DC or SSP — not just to honour their success, but to inspire even bigger dreams.
Real-life leadership, public service, and self-belief — all in one day.
Proud to launch ‘Ek Din DC/SSP… pic.twitter.com/NxxTm0hHQS— Harjot Singh Bains (@harjotbains) May 21, 2025
What happens when you take a bright young student from a small village school and place them next to the district’s most powerful officers for a day? You spark a dream. And in Punjab, that dream just became a reality.
In a groundbreaking move, the Punjab Government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has launched “Ek Din, DC/SSP de Sang”—a first-of-its-kind program that brings government school toppers face-to-face with real-world governance and leadership.
Announced by Punjab’s School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, this visionary initiative selects six top-performing students (three each from classes 10 and 12) in every district and gives them an exclusive day-long mentorship with their local Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).
The goal? To inspire. To ignite purpose. And to help these students see themselves as the changemakers of tomorrow.
“This is more than a reward—it’s an opportunity,” said Bains. “We want our brightest minds to not just dream of success but to visualize themselves as leaders in governance, justice, and public service.”
A Day of Discovery
The students won’t just shake hands with high-ranking officers—they’ll walk in their shoes. From participating in grievance redressal meetings to observing cyber cell operations, joining developmental field visits, and sitting in on planning sessions, these young scholars will get a rare look at how their districts function from the inside out.
They’ll share a meal with the officers, ask questions, discuss dreams, and receive career advice rooted in real-world leadership. At the end of the day, they’ll go home with more than memories—each student will be given a certificate, a motivational book or diary, and a group photograph as a keepsake.
Planting Seeds for the Future
The ripple effects won’t stop there. Each student will later reflect on their experience in a write-up, which will be compiled into a District Merit Booklet, preserving their insights and lessons. They’ll also return to their schools to share what they learned, spreading a wave of ambition and civic curiosity among their peers.
“We want this to be contagious,” Bains noted. “If one child sees themselves in the DC’s chair, we want ten more to believe it’s possible too.”
This initiative, bold in design and personal in execution, underscores the Punjab Government’s commitment to inclusive opportunity and transformational education. It sends a clear message: Leadership isn’t born in privilege. It’s nurtured in classrooms, in dreams, and in actions.
So, the next time you see a school toppers with a spark in their eyes, remember—they might just be tomorrow’s DC, SSP, or even the next Chief Minister.