Row hits inauguration of Mohali’s School of Eminence boundary wall
As part of the state government’s ‘Sikhya Kranti (education revolution)’ initiative, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday inaugurated a boundary wall of a School of Eminence in Phase 11, Mohali, despite the school being completed and functional in 2024.
3 min read
Education Minister Harjot Bains lays foundation stone of a boundary wall at School of Eminence in Phase 11, Mohali,
on Monday. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)Inauguration of the infrastructure that reportedly already exists since last year has left the Punjab government red-faced in a ceremony of a School of Eminence (SoE) in Mohali.
Chaos broke out among the attendees during the ceremony, with murmurs and confusion spreading among the public. Many questioned the purpose of such an event, as the infrastructure of the school already exists. Bains, however, defended the move, stating that such inaugural functions allow for better community engagement and help in understanding local challenges.
The event also exposed a deeper issue: the original senior secondary school in Phase 11, running since the inception of Phase 11, has recently been downgraded to a primary school, limiting education access only up to class 5. Its other building, which has been shifted near the police station in Phase 11 as a SoE, started working in 2024. The SoE only takes admission from classes 9 to 12 after an entry-level examination. As a result, many parents were left worried about where their children would continue their studies from class 6 onwards.
One such parent, Tajinder Singh, expressed his frustration after his daughter, Jasmeet Kaur, who scored an impressive 496 out of 500 in class 5, was denied admission to class 6. According to Tajinder, teachers advised him to seek admission in another school. Last year this school was having classes till 12th standard.
When contacted the school’s principal Lovish Chawla, who also holds the additional charge of Controller at the Punjab School Education Board, denied any systemic issue but failed to explain why Jasmeet’s admission was delayed. He mentioned the possibility of a communication gap and assured that her admission would be processed by Wednesday, adding that classes 6 to 8 would resume as before in this school.
District Education Officer (Secondary), Ginni Dugal, stated she had no prior knowledge of this problem but guaranteed that students would be accommodated in the same school. Bains, when asked, assured that no student would be left behind and all eligible children would be granted admission.
10L grant for playground
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday inaugurated newly developed infrastructure projects worth over Rs. 2.34 crore across three government senior secondary schools of Mohali district.
At the School of Eminence (SoE) in Phase 11, Bains inaugurated a new boundary wall constructed at a cost of Rs 13.99 lakh. He also announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the construction of a playground at the school.
You May Like
