Pupil strength drops to zero in 2 govt schools in Jalandhar's Lohian block

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 11

Two schools in the Lohian block in the district are without students. There is not even a single student in Government Primary School (GPS), Heran Boop Singh, and Government Middle School (GMS), Bara Jodh Singh.

Sources in the department said these were the only exceptions, even as there were schools having a handful of students.

In GPS, Hera Boop Singh, there were eight students in the last session. Since there was no permanent teacher and teachers would come here on deputation, the strength kept on decreasing. This year, not a single student took admission. Sources said a letter was sent to the Lohian Khas Block Primary Education Officer in which it was mentioned that parents had decided to admit their wards in a nearby school as teachers used to come on deputation in the school. A request to appoint a permanent teacher was also made in the letter so that students could be brought back to the school.

Rampal, District Education Officer (Primary), said the matter was in his knowledge. “Parents have shifted their wards to other government schools,” he said.

Government Middle School, Bara Jodh Singh, also has no student. In the last session, there were a total of 10 students, of which six were in Class VIII, who passed out this session. However, no new admissions took place this time. Teachers here have been shifted to other government schools now.

Harinderpal Singh, District Education Officer (Secondary), said the school was not closed officially. “There were three teachers in the school. But because of low student strength last year and lockdown this time, no new admissions took place. However, once everything becomes normal, we will ask parents to admit their wards to the schools,” he said.