Ashahoor govt school sets benchmarks in edu excellence

In 1997, he joined a one-storeyed middle school with just three chairs, one almirah, inadequate rooms and insufficient infrastructure. Today, the squeaky clean, vibrant campus of PM Shri Government High School, Ashahoor, in Jalandhar’s Bet area, stands as a beacon of educational excellence—visible from a distance and inspiring the region.

With a tenure spanning over two decades, Headmaster Tirath Singh Bassi has transformed the school, which now boasts 291 students in this remote Bet area along the Sutlej river. Once considered a poor belt with average educational facilities, the area is now home to a model government institution with eight large classrooms, three functional labs (science, maths and computer science) and an additional Information Technology lab in the pipeline.

The school premises are solar-powered, the open campus is vibrant and welcoming and the staff is trained to be empathetic towards students. Recognising the economic challenges faced by many in the area, teachers regularly provide financial support to students from underprivileged backgrounds. This includes covering costs like the Class 10 examination fee of Rs 1,500.

Further assistance is also provided through the Birmingham-based Shri Guru Ravidass Educational Charitable Trust, supported by NRI philanthropist Sewa Singh. The school implements the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) module, tailoring education to suit each student’s aptitude. In 2024, it was among 15 schools in Jalandhar selected under the Centre’s “PM Schools for Rising India” initiative. With four more added this year, the district now has 19 such schools.

From a time when even local villagers hesitated to send their children, Ashahoor School is now drawing students from neighbouring areas. Headmaster Bassi has personally designed the well-ventilated school building and overseen every upgrade over the years.

The school also boasts notable alumni, including several female students who now work as nurses abroad. Speaking to The Tribune, Headmaster Bassi said, “I have been fortunate to serve this school for 28 years. When I joined, it had just become a middle school and no one wanted to come here. My dream was to transform it into a school known not for leaking roofs but for educational excellence.”

He added, “Visiting teams recommend classrooms sized 25 to 35 feet—we have 45-foot classrooms. Every class is a smart classroom with interactive panels and some even have nine ceiling fans. Our annual December cultural gathering also raises aid for students. The school was upgraded from middle to high, and from high to PM Shri status under my tenure.” With retirement due next year, Bassi is still pushing for further upgrades—determined to leave behind an even better version of the school he helped build from scratch.