Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the SAD-BJP alliance government was committed to revitalize the complete education system of the state in coming two years. Addressing the gathering during the convocation of Khalsa College here today, the Chief Minister said that complete transformation of the education system in the state was on their top priority for which stupendous efforts were being made by the state government. Badal said that they were aware about the need of quality education in today’s competitive age when owing to the modern techniques of communication whole of the world has become a Global village. He said that keeping in view the need to impart quality and modern education to the students of the state their government has kept the education sector on its top priority.
The Chief Minister further said that he has already passed on the necessary directions to the officials of the Education department for submitting report regarding the requirement of infra structure, staff and other basic necessities needed for the complete overhaul of the Primary, Secondary and Higher education along with the Technical education in the state. Badal said that after getting the report regarding the requirements the state government would make endeavors for transforming the education system within two years. The Chief Minister further said that during their previous regime also the SAD-BJP government of the state had taken unprecedented steps for reforming the Education system in the state. Badal said that though since independence the state had only 56 colleges but due to the persistent efforts made by the alliance government around 17 new colleges were opened in the state in last one year. He further said that when they had taken over the reigns of the state government there were only four universities in the state but now six new universities have been opened by the government. The Chief Minister further said as a result of these concerted efforts made by the state government Punjab which earlier ranked 14th in the field of education, now ranks third in the country. Badal also vowed that their government was committed to make the state number one in the field of education for which the coming two years would play a pivotal role. Meanwhile Badal conferred degrees on 438 students of the College during the convocation. The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the College from his discretionary fund. Later on talking to the media persons, the Chief Minister said that Centre had always meted out a step motherly treatment with Punjab and it was obligatory on his part to pursue with Centre for seeking grants under the centrally sponsored schemes meant for welfare of the people. Badal said that the people of Punjab had been dejected due to the tough posture of the Union government headed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who happens to be Punjabi, which was evident from the center’s dilly dallying approach to deny the state to grant permission for creation of scientific storage (Silos) for food grains despite of repeated requests made by him personally to the Prime Minister and the Union Civil Supply Minister. Calling for a change of guard at Center during the forth coming Lok Sabha polls Badal asked the people to show a door to the Congress led UPA government in order to safeguard the interests of Punjab and ensure justice to the state. He lamented that despite several reminders and requests made at different platforms the state had been denied the complete waiver of debt worth Rs 30000 crore. The Chief Minister pointed out that Center had diluted the Federal structure of the country thereby usurping the powers of state, which have been merely reduced to the position of beggars. Earlier welcoming the Chief Minister Satyajeet Singh Majithia the President of College Governing Council of the college lauded the role played by the Chief Minister in maintaining peace and communal harmony in the state thus paving way for the unprecedented development of the state. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University Dr Ajaib Singh Brar.