The Education Department, adding another innovative initiative to its credit, has launched "Smart School Darshan" programme.
The programme is aimed at making the people aware about the changing scenario of the government schools in the state. It is pertinent to mention here that under the "Sikhiya Sudhar Muhim", the infrastructural facilities have been spruced up drastically over the past four years ultimately ushering in an era of qualitative improvement in education.
Now, government schools have started outsmarting private schools in terms of infrastructural as well as quality education facilities. The Board results are also better than the private schools and enrollment is increasing consecutively for the past two years.
Under "Smart School Darshan", the government schools are inviting the community to visit school. Lending a new dimension to the programme, the District Education Officer (SE), Satinderbir Singh, invited Bar Association, Amritsar, to visit government school situated at village Talwandi Dasuanda to have a first hand experience of the revolutionary changes in the government schools.
The parents and SMC members were also present on the occasion. The DEO (SE), apprised the delegation of Bar Association, led by its president, Vipin Dhand, parents and SMC members of infrastructural changes in the school like beautiful colour coding, tastefully decorated rooms and verandas with educative BALA work, smart classrooms, computer and science / math/ English/ S.St. Labs, playgrounds, library, educational parks , shooting range and digital education through LED projectors and latest digital applications.
The DEO also demonstrated digital education via "Punjab Educare App" developed by the Department. Moreover, the delegation was also apprised of the various welfare schemes like free mid day meal, uniforms, scholarships, text books to the eligible beneficiaries and nominal fee structure available in government schools. The various quality education activities were also demonstrated to the delegation.
The delegation of the Bar Association was visibly mesmerised during the visit. Vipin Dhand, President, sharing his experiences about "Smart School Darshan", on behalf of the Bar Association, said that the delegation was quite stunned to experience the sea change in the government schools.
He appealed to the public to avail of the benefits of state of the art infrastructural and quality education facilities in government schools instead of paying hefty fees in private schools just in pursuit of quality education for their children.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the Education Department, with a view to mobilising parents to get their wards admitted in government schools, has launched a massive awareness drive. Under the drive, the department has been making optimum utilisation of both traditional as well as digital modes of propaganda.
The officials, teachers and non teaching employees have been going door to door, organising awareness rallies and camps during religious and social melas, affixing flex hoardings at public places, staging street plays in villages and towns, playing promotional songs. Besides, e prospectus, google admission forms, student management system, extensive use of social media like facebook, whatsapp groups are being ensured to create awareness among masses.