PRE-PRIMARY CLASSES IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS OF PUNJAB KICKSTARTED AMID FANFARE

PUNJAB FIRST STATE IN COUNTRY TO UNDERTAKE PATH BREAKING INITIATIVE: ARUNA CHAUDHARY
· WOULD LEAD TO STRENGTHENING OF PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL & CREATIVE FACULTIES OF CHILDREN
· SEPARATE CADRE FOR FILLING SHORTFALL OF TEACHERS IN BORDER AREAS BEING SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED
· SECRETARY, EDUCATION, KRISHAN KUMAR TERMS IT A HISTORIC OCCASION
· DIFFRENTLY ABLED BOY AJAY RECEIVES THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE FOR DANCE PERFORMANCE
SAS NAGAR (MOHALI), NOVEMBER 14, 2017: "The Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh has always accorded top priority status to the educational sector with special emphasis on primary education and the kickstarting of the pre-primary classes throughout the 12500 Government Primary Schools for children in 3-6 year age group today with fanfare augurs well for the future of the State as well as the nation."
Disclosing this while formally launching the pre-primary classes here today at the Government Elementry School, Phase-7 named project 'KHED MAHAL', the Education Minister, Punjab, Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary said that today is a red letter day and Punjab has taken the lead in terms of shaping well the future of the nation i.e. children by becoming the first state in the country to take this one of its kind novel initiative heralding a new dawn. The minister further said that this path breaking measure would result in the strengthening of physical, intellectual as well as the creative faculties of the children and by the time they would be of school going age they would be well conversant with the school environment.
Throwing light on the various aspects of the project, the minister said that the pre-primary classes timings would be of 3 hours duration, everything would be free of cost and besides this the children have been classified in 3 groups in accordance with which those from 3-4 year age group would be enrolled in Nursery, 4-5 year age group children would study in LKG while those of 5-6 year age group would be studying in UKG standard.
Listing the other measures of the Education Department, Mrs. Chaudhary said that now, the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) would be held 4 times in a year so as to ensure that every teacher gets a shot at promotion. The minister further elaborated that serious deliberations are going on to form a separate cadre for the border areas in order to fulfill the shortfall of the teachers in those regions.
Divulging more, the minister said that till date approximately 1,50,000 students have been admitted in the classes and the admission process would go on till 30th November, 2017. The minister also made it clear that the anganwadi workers need not worry as their future and jobs would be secured instead their services would be utilized to the maximum extent to keep the initiative prospering.
Addressing on the occasion, the MLA (Mohali) Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu it is a very significant beginning in the annals of Punjab for which the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh and the Education Minister Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary deserve full accolades. He also expressed happiness at the fact that the beginning of this noble cause has been made from Mohali. He further added that this enterprise would lead to the replenishment of the strength of the Government Schools leading to them becoming on par with the private schools.
In his address, the Secretary, Education, Mr. Krishan Kumar termed today as a historic day and said that the teachers deserve praise for whole heartedly committed to making this project come to fruition. He also said that this initiative has fulfilled the demand of the teaching community. He also exhorted all the teachers to work with all the more vigour, zest and zeal to ensure further success of the project.
Earlier, the minister inspected the infrastructure concerning the running of the project besides visiting the science exhibition put up by the students. While interacting with the students, the minister encouraged them to study hard to make a mark in life. On the occasion, a cultural programme was also held the highlight of which was an exceptional dance performance by a differently abled boy Ajay which was applauded by all with thunderous clapping.
Others present on the occasion included Director General School Education Mr. Prashant Kumar Goyal, DPI (Secondary) Mr. Paramjit Singh, DPI (Elementary) Mr. Inderjit Singh, Director SCERT Mr. Sukhdev Singh Kahlon and DEO (EE) Mohali Mr. Gurmej Singh Kainth.