In a move aimed at imparting quality higher education to the students, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal gave approval for setting up 'Smart Classes' in all the government colleges of the state.A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister during a meeting with the officers of the Higher Education department at his residence on Tuesday late evening.Taking part in deliberations, the Chief Minister, while underscoring the need for upgrading and strengthening the Higher education sector in the state said that these 'Smart Classes' must be established in all the government colleges across the state to equip the students with high end technologies. He said that this project would house ultra modern libraries and laboratories in these colleges, to enormously benefit the students. Mr. Badal also approved the allocation of Rs 5 lakh each to all the government colleges under this project.
In another significant decision, the Chief Minister also approved the opening of 'Finishing Schools' in the Government College Hoshiarpur, Tanda Urmur, Mansa, Bathinda, Tarn Taran, Jagroan, Patiala, Faridkot, Sunam, Gurdaspur, Ajnala, Dhudike, SCD College and Government College for Women Ludhiana for imparting vocational and skill training to the students in Hospitality, Airlines, Sales & Marketing, IT & Networking and Retail Sectors. Underscoring the adoption of a holistic approach to update the communication, inter personal, technical, essential employability and aptitude and problem solving skill of the students so that they could excel in future, Mr. Badal said that the state government would spend Rs 38 lakh for setting of these 'Finishing School' in 14 colleges selected in the first phase and the remaining colleges would be covered in the subsequent phases. He said that it was need of the hour to acquaint the students with the emerging trends in this sector so that they could be gainfully employed.
In order to promote sports and a relatively new discipline of Aeronautical Engineering in the state, the Chief Minister also approved the setting up of Sports College at Jalandhar and Punjab Aeronautical Engineering College at Patiala. He also approved the allocation of Rs 26 crore (Rs 13 crore for each college) to set up these colleges. Likewise, in order to promote education in the Educational Backward Districts (EBDs) of Ferozepur and Pathankot, Mr. Badal also approved the setting up of two Model Degree Colleges in these districts.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Principal Secretary Finance Mrs. Vinnie Mahajan, Principal Secretary Higher Education Dr. Roshan Sunkaria, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Dr S Karunaraju and Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sharma and DPI Colleges Mr. GS Ghuman.