The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) takes its pride in revolutionizing the education and health sector in their rule states & union territories. AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann came into power in Punjab with multiple big promises and one was to improve the infrastructure and quality of education in government-run schools. Walking the talk, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann introduced the School of Eminence initiative for the government-run schools and now it has started to bear the fruits.
What is the Punjab government's School of Eminence initiative?
The Government of Punjab has launched the program of Schools of Eminence to transform Government schools into centers of excellent education. These schools with world-grade infrastructure aim to provide holistic education to students of Class 9th to 12th. Admission to 9th and 11th classes in Schools of Eminence for quality education will take place through a combined aptitude test and merit-based centralized admission process to be undertaken by the SCERT, Punjab.
Punjab's School of Eminence started by the Bhagwant Mann government is now competing with private schools and due to this initiative, a large number of students are taking admission in these government schools. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann praised this initiative and said that in these schools, children of all sections are getting the opportunity of equal education under one roof.
Features of the School of Eminence in Punjab
CM Bhagwant Mann said that the schools running under 'School of Eminence' are not only known for grand buildings, but they also have excellent classrooms, modern libraries, science laboratories, and clean bathrooms. These schools go beyond traditional teaching methods and are based on a holistic approach, which prepares students for the challenges of the 21st century. These schools have been designed to promote creativity and values so that children can be prepared from every aspect.
Model of Inclusive Education in Punjab Government's School of Eminence
The main attraction of the School of Eminence is that children from different social and economic backgrounds sit in the same class. This promotes equality and inclusiveness in the field of education. Giving an example, Chief Minister Mann said that in these schools, children of judges, district collectors and rickshaw pullers study together, which helps in eradicating the feeling of social discrimination.
Modern transport facilities
The Punjab government has also provided modern transport facilities for the children of the School of Eminence. Free buses have been arranged for children coming from far-flung areas. These buses pick up children from their homes to school in the morning and drop them back home after school is over. Due to this facility, both the time and money of parents and children are being saved.
What are the plans for the School of Eminence?
The Punjab government aims to implement this successful model in other parts of the state and across the country. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says that this model not only improves the quality of education but also promotes social equality and inclusiveness. This is a model that is completely replicable and can bring about positive change in the field of education.
School of Eminence Admission Process
75% of seats in each SoE will be reserved for students from government schools, including local body schools in Punjab. The remaining 25% of seats will be available for students studying in any other recognized schools in Punjab affiliated to State and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
However, if seats reserved for the students from private schools remain vacant or unfilled, those seats will be allotted to the students from government schools, including local body and government-aided schools in Punjab
- Online application forms for registration will be made available on the website of the Department of School Education, Punjab & Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).
- All students currently studying in Class 8th and 10th in the schools of Punjab are eligible to apply for admission to these schools.
- Students studying in any recognized school in a cluster will be eligible to apply to the School of Eminence of that particular cluster only.
- Common aptitude tests will be conducted for admission in SOEs in classes 9th and11th.
- Reservation criteria for admission in SoE will be as per the guidelines of the Department of Welfare of Scheduled castes, Backward Class, and Minorities Govt. of Punjab as per the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Castes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006 (Punjab Act No. 22 of 2006).
- The minimum qualifying marks for the admission test are 35% in subjects and 35% in reasoning and 40% in total.
- Students from the reserved categories will be eligible for a relaxation of 5% marks in the sectional and aggregate cutoff.
- Students who did not pass their respective exams of classes 8th and 10th or got reappear/compartment in any subject will not be eligible for admission in the SoEs.