In recognition to the outstanding contribution of teachers for imparting quality education to the students, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced to institute a ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for each male and female government school teachers from across the state.Addressing an impressive gathering of students from various schools during launch of ‘Mukh Mantri Vigyan Yatra’ here today at Senior Secondary School, the Chief Minister said that this award would encourage all the teachers to excel in field of education through upgrading their teaching skills and adopting innovative teaching practices, so as to create a congenial bonding between the teachers and pupils, through quality teaching. Likewise, he also announced to enhance the award money being given to the best teachers conferred with state award from the government schools in the state from Rs 10000 to Rs 25000 every year.
The Chief Minister also asked the Education Minister to put in place a mechanism for initiating recruitment process well before the retirement of teachers so as to effectively offset the problem of teacher’s shortage due to their superannuation at a particular point of time. He said that this step would ensure smooth functioning of academic session in the schools.The Chief Minister also appealed the students to shun away the practice of copying in the exams. He said that it was incumbent on the part of parents and school teachers to motivate the students to work hard to secure high marks by the dint of their hard labour and dedication.Highlighting the special initiatives taken by the state government to promote quality education, the Chief Minister said that the Meritorious schools, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Academies at Mohali for boys and girls respectively were the testimony to state government 's firm resolve to provide a healthy platform to compete with their peers of convent schools in securing lucrative jobs not only in civil and defence services but also to get gainful employment across the globe. He also announced that the students passing out from the meritorious schools would be imparted free higher education by the state government thereby bearing the entire expenditure of their education as per the stream which they opted may be medical, engineering and commerce etc.
Dwelling on the ‘Mukh Mantri Vigyan Yatra’ scheme, Chief Minister said that its sole aim was to imbibe scientific temper amongst the students of 6th class onwards from all the government schools across the state. He said that under the scheme, over 28000 students from class 6th onwards of government schools would be taken for an excursion to Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala at state government’s expenditure during the current financial year. Mr. Badal said that the basic spirit behind this scheme was to apprise them of various scientific activities related to Earth and universe to re-kindle an urge for scientific temper and quest for advanced learning in these subjects. “This is the need of the hour to make a paradigm shift in student’s mindset to develop aptitude and curiosity for knowledge in science subjects to enable them to compete globally with their peers during their pursuit of excellence and professional career” he addedEarlier in his address, Education Minister Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema lauded the Chief Minister for showing special concern for giving fillip to education sector in the state. He said that under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister , Punjab has scripted a new success story in field of education and has emerged as a frontrunner in imparting quality education to the students.
Later on, the Chief Minister flagged off buses under ‘Mukh Mantri Vigyan Yatra’ scheme. On the occasion the students of various schools regaled the audience with their scintillating performances during a brief variety program. Highly impressed with the dance performance by specially abled student Ms. Rekha, the Chief Minister handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to her. Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Education Minister Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, Lok Sabha MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. NK Sharma, former MLA Jathedar Ujaagar Singh Wadali, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Education Dr G Vajralingam, Secretary Science and Technology Mr. Jaspal Singh, Director General School Education Mr. Pardeep Aggarwal and Chairperson Punjab School Education Board Mrs. Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal.