Edu Minister Bains orders DEOs to plan field visits daily for 2 hours

To improve the efficiency of government schools in the state ahead of admissions for the 2025-26 cycle, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has ordered all District Education Officers (Elementary & Secondary) to spend two hours daily in the field. The DEOs have been asked to plan field visits between 9 am to 11 am daily and prepare data-based district-specific action plans with measurable outcomes. The outcome of all the DEOs will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

These directions were issued during a full-day marathon review meeting with the DEOs held at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA). The Education Minister also asked them to ensure on-ground implementation of programmes regarding the Schools of Eminence (SOEs), enrollment drive and student coaching launched by the state government.

To assess the progress in fulfilling promises and achieving targets in the education sector, which has been accorded top priority by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government, Bains stated that education is the cornerstone of Punjab’s future and the government is committed to transforming the state’s education system.

Meanwhile, Harbhagwant Singh, DEO (Secondary), said that any official notification in this regard is yet to be received by his office. “It’s a good initiative and our officials anyway keep visiting schools to know the ground reality. We welcome any such move,” he said.

The admission drive is slated to begin this year around March 17-18 and will continue for a month.