The Punjab Government has been spending Rs.150 crore for setting up Residential Schools in six major cities of the state. This ambitious project of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is aimed at providing free and quality education to the poor but meritorious students of the state. It was stated by Punjab Education Minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema during his visit to the Residential School, Mohali.
Education Minister Dr. Cheema said that these residential schools were being set up at Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Mohali. He said that the construction work was on full swing at the first phase of the construction has already been completed. He said that the admissions for these special schools would be commenced from July 1, 2014. The Minister said that more than 240 students have already submitted applications for admission in residential school at Mohali, whereas the process of recruitment of teachers for these schools was about to complete. He mentioned that these schools would offer special treatment and facilities for the differently-abled students.
During the round of school, Dr. Cheema went to every class room of the school to supervise the construction work and to ensure that every necessary equipment and facility were at place in the class rooms as well as in laboratories. “Punjab has become the first state of the country which will provide free education to poor matriculent students. Students can avail this opportunity to fulfill their dreams by taking admission in Residential schools started by the state government", he added.Dr. Cheema reiterated the state government’s resolve to provide every kind of facilities and atmosphere for the poor but meritorious students of the state to enable them pursue higher education in level playing field. Mr. Mewa Singh, District Education Officer, SAS Nagar, who was accompanying the Education Minister, said that the building of the school has been built with the investment of Rs.28.16 crore over the area of 7.20 acre. The premise of the school was comprised of four buildings including; girls’ hostel, boys’ hostel and hostel for staff apart from the main school building. Boys’ hostel could accommodate 400 students, whereas the girls’ hostel has the facility to accommodate 600.