'Pictures & brief life history to be displayed in schools to sensitise students about these personalities, their sacrifices & contributions'

Chandigarh: With an aim to honour the legacy of the state’s notable personalities, the AAP-led Punjab Government has renamed 115 government schools after such personalities, including freedom fighters, martyrs and internationally acclaimed players, said S. Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of School Education, Punjab.

Notably, the School Education department has renamed 25 Govt schools after various freedom fighters and martyrs on July 18, 2025. The Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann announced yesterday that a school of Beas village in Jalandhar district would be renamed after the legendary marathon runner Sardar Fauja Singh.

While addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, on Monday, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has also decided to display pictures and histories of these notable personalities in the schools named after them to inspire students with their great sacrifices and contributions, while honouring their legacy appropriately.

These 115 schools have been renamed to honour Ghadar movement heroes, freedom fighters, martyrs and eminent personalities of Punjab.

Renaming schools after them would inspire students through the stories and sacrifices of these great individuals, S. Harjot Singh Bains emphasised, while highlighting that the AAP-led Punjab government renamed the Government High School in Khatkar Kalan to Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Govt High School in 2023, after decades of the sacrifice of the legendary martyr. "We are making concerted efforts to honour our martyrs and other eminent personalities who made the Punjab proud," he added.

In response to a media query on the initiative 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that the school education department, along with subject experts, is making a curriculum to sensitise students against the ill-effects of drugs. It will lay a strong foundation against this menace.

While replying to another question on introducing Sikh history in the syllabus, the Education Minister welcomed the move. He also expressed that Sikh history should be appropriately represented and taught in a manner that reflects its significance.