Issued warning to principals to improve results

Spokesman News Service: Chandigarh, December 13: Punjab Education Minister Mr. O.P. Soni today reviewed the working of Meritorious Schools and issued stern warning to Principals that they would be held responsible for poor results. He categorically said that he want the results should be 100 percent and Principals and teachers should focus on the target. 

In this regard a meeting was today held under the Chairmanship of Education Minister Mr. O.P. Soni. It was observed in this meeting that the strength of the students of Meritorious Schools which was earlier in academic session 2017-18 as 5981 students, now risen to 6600 in 2018-19. It is likely that this figure may touch 8,000 students in coming academic year.

Recently 136 Lecturers has been recruited which has joined in Meritorious Schools thus raising the strength 304 in these schools and as such there is no shortfall of lecturers except 17 commerce lecturers for which there is stay by Hon'ble High Court. The Education Department has moved an application for early hearing, to get the stay vacated in the Court to enable the Department to fill these posts.

The Minister was informed that this year migration of students from one school to another school is permitted as a result the drop out of students is negligible this year. Besides this, the policy of transfer of teaching/non-teaching staff is also permitted and as a consequence the tendency of resignation by the staff is therefore eliminated.

Five Principals have been taken on deputation from Education Department, so that these schools are run effectively. The Minister also reviewed the online coaching presently being undertaken in the schools. After reviewing the matter the respective Principals were authorized to convene tenders at their level, in case they are not satisfied with present system of online coaching.

The Education Minister was told that at present, there is contingency fund of Rs. 20,000 per month given to each Principal to meet the local requirements and maintenance of schools, which was ordered to be increased to Rs. 2,00,000. Mr. Soni directed that solar panels should be installed in all schools, he further instructed that the payment of Mess/food should be released upto date till Nov 2018 to ensuring that supply line would not be compromised.

It was also decided in this meeting that the construction work pending at Meritorious School of Talwara and Gurdaspur should be completed expeditiously and there is no problem in holding classes from next academic year. In this regard Education Minister spoke to Principal Secretary, Finance for release of funds. On this occasion Secretary Education Mr. Krishan Kumar and DGSE Mr. Parshant Kumar Goyal were present.