Batting for admitting maximum students in government schools and providing career guidance concerning choosing right profession at right time, Punjab Education Minister, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema today held daylong meetings with education officers at Punjab School Education Board complex.Reviewing the 5th and 8th standard results after conduct of these exams for the first time, the Education Minister praised schools showing good results while asking schools with poor results to do better next time. During the occasion, it was decided after meetings with state and national awardee teacher associations that students securing 'e' grade (less than 33 percent marks) in 5th and 8th standard exams would be taught by awardee teachers through special classes. Keeping in mind the 10th and 12th standard results , he asked the career guidance counselors to identify students and help them from this moment onwards in choosing the subjects they want to pursue as per their aptitude and capability.
Holding meeting with all District Education Officers (DEO) of the state, Dr. Cheema said that State Government has provided an exceptional infrastructure in the government schools and apart from quality education, various facilities like---Scholarships, Meritorious Schools, Free Admissions, Vocational Education, Fitness Regime, Career Guidance Counseling, Free Cycles to Girl students and Free nutritious food are being provided. He said that parents of children must be made aware regarding these amenities so as to inspire them to send their wards to government schools.On the occasion, he said that very positive outcome has been derived from first time conduct of 5th & 8th standard exams. Reviewing the results from multiple parameters, he also decided to award schools with good results with commendation letters besides asking concerned D.E.O.'s to conduct district wise meetings in order to review poor results.Dr. Cheema also chaired a meeting of career guidance and counseling cell at the board auditorium in which besides D.E.O.'s, 22 district career guidance counselors and 300 cluster (guidance resource person) also participated.
While appreciating the initiatives undertaken by guidance cell, Dr. Cheema said that coming 2 months occupy a place of prominence because they would be crucial in guiding the students about higher education and profession to choose. He also laid stress on organizing camps at district level with the aid of administration to guide students concerning career choices and also cautioning them against fraudulent advertisements which tend to exploit them by promising moon. He also lauded the education board for providing help to the guidance cell at every step.During the course of these meetings, Chairperson Punjab School Education Board Dr. Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Director General School Education Mr. Pradeep Kumar Agarwal, DPI (Secondary Education) Mr. Balbir Singh Dhol, DPI (Elementary Education) Mrs. Pankaj Sharma, Director SCERT Mr. Sukhdev Singh Kahlon, Deputy Director Dr. Ginni Duggal, and Co-ordinator-cum- Deputy Director of Guidance Cell Mrs. Shruti Shukla were also present.