‘Government schools witness spiral growth in enrolment’

Our Correspondent

Nawanshahr, May 6

Various campaigns started by the Education Department, including online education, Each one Bring One drive etc. have started bearing fruit. The Nawanshahr district, during the lockdown, has witnessed a record increase in enrolment in primary classes.

Pawan Kumar, District Education Officer (Primary) and Deputy DEO, Chhotu Ram, said due to the hard work being done by the Parho Punjab, Parhao Punjab team and the teachers, as many as 24,93 students had been enrolled in the pre-primary to Class V in the district, exceeding the previous session’’s tally by 1,433 students.

They said the Nawanshahr block had exceeded enrolment to the tune of 638, Block Aur by 323, Block Banga 124, Block Balachaur (1) 92, Block Balachaur (2) 96, Block Saroya 95 and Block Mukandpur by 95 students.

They duo further said during the unprecedented crisis, teachers resorted to the digital route and started taking classes through WhatsApp groups. The innovative idea has not only started keeping students in touch with syllabi but proved a relief for parents who have been finding it hard to keep their wards indoor during the lockdown period.

“The online education has also been helping to bring in a positive change in public perception and proving a major attraction for parents to get their wards admitted to government schools,” they said.

Satnam Singh and Neel Kamal, district coordinator and assistant district coordinator of Parho Punjab, Parhao Punjab, said as many as 6,709 students in pre-primary classes had already been admitted so far, while the enrolment in the previous academic session was 4,581. “In Class V in this session a total of 3,930 students have been admitted against the previous year’’s enrolment of 3,880 students.”

Hoshiarpur DC permits online education

Hoshiarpur: District Magistrate Apneet Riyait gave permit to all educational institutions in the district to carry out online education on Tuesday. The District Education Officer (Secondary) has been appointed as the nodal officer for the same. The DM ordered that schools, colleges and educational institutions in district would remain closed, but online education could be imparted. She said if any office work was necessary for online teaching or distribution of books, it could be done with only 33 per cent staff with pre-approval of the District Education Officer(s). The school, college or educational institution concerned will have to ensure to follow the state government’s instructions for the same. She said any other activity in schools, colleges or educational institutions was completely prohibited.