161 'best' government schools in Punjab get Rs 11 crore

Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Friday honoured a total of 161 government schools with the “Best School Award” carrying a total prize money of Rs 11 crore. 

Addressing the gathering during the award function held here, Bains said 92 primary, middle, high and senior secondary schools for the session 2023-24 and 69 middle, high, and senior secondary schools for the session 2024-25 had been awarded today. He further said primary schools had been awarded with Rs 2.5 lakh cash prize each, middle schools with Rs 5 lakh each, high schools with Rs 7.5 lakh each and senior secondary schools with Rs 10 lakh each. 

He said these schools had been selected through a merit-based criteria and strict parameters, including students' performance, attendance, community participation and maintenance of school infrastructure.

Underlining the role of school heads in transforming the schools, Bains urged the award-winning school heads to boost the student enrollment in government schools and promote the initiatives taken by the government in providing the best quality education and necessary amenities in schools, besides equipping the government teachers with latest teaching methodologies by sending them to renowned institutions like University of Turku (Finland) for training to ensure the world-class education in the state government schools. 

Special Secretary, School Education, Rajesh Dhiman, Punjab Development Commission Member Anurag Kundu, Director and School Education (Elementary), Paramjit Singh, among others were also present during the event.