Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann came into power with a plethora of promises, and one of them was to improve the education infrastructure. After coming into power, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann introduced the School of Eminence scheme and in no time it became the talking point. Just like AAP's Delhi Model that improved its government schools' infrastructure, the School of Eminence scheme brought by the Bhagwant Mann government promised to make Punjab's education infrastructure world-class.
Punjab School of Eminence expanding
In the first phase of the 'School of Eminence' programme, 117 government senior secondary schools across all 23 districts of Punjab have been chosen to be part of the initiative. Through the School of Eminence project, the Punjab government aims to boost education in government schools and ensure the holistic development of students so that they become responsible citizens.
Notably, Ludhiana will get two more School of Eminence. Out of 13 such schools in Punjab, two will be opened in Ludhiana in Millerganj (Dholewal) and Kidvai Nagar (division No. 3). The executive agency for construction of SoE Millerganj (Dholewal) is the public works department (PWD) and for SoE Kidwai Nagar (division No.3) is the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT).
What is the Punjab School of Eminence?
The Government of Punjab has launched the program of Schools of Eminence to transform Government schools into centers of excellent education. These schools with world-grade infrastructure aim to provide holistic education to students of Class 9th to 12th. Admission to 9th and 11th classes in Schools of Eminence for quality education will take place through a combined aptitude test and merit-based centralized admission process to be undertaken by the SCERT, Punjab.
Punjab's School of Eminence started by the Bhagwant Mann government is now competing with private schools and due to this initiative, a large number of students are taking admission in these government schools. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann praised this initiative and said that in these schools, children of all sections are getting the opportunity of equal education under one roof.
What is the moto behind Punjab School of Eminence?
The Punjab government aims to implement this successful model in other parts of the state and across the country. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says that this model not only improves the quality of education but also promotes social equality and inclusiveness. This is a model that is completely replicable and can bring about positive change in the field of education.
Punjab School of Eminence Admission Process
75% of seats in each SoE will be reserved for students from government schools, including local body schools in Punjab. The remaining 25% of seats will be available for students studying in any other recognized schools in Punjab affiliated with the State and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
However, if seats reserved for students from private schools remain vacant or unfilled, those seats will be allotted to the students from government schools, including local body and government-aided schools in Punjab
- Online application forms for registration will be made available on the website of the Department of School Education, Punjab & Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).
- All students currently studying in Class 8th and 10th in the schools of Punjab are eligible to apply for admission to these schools.
- Students studying in any recognized school in a cluster will be eligible to apply to the School of Eminence of that particular cluster only.
- Common aptitude tests will be conducted for admission in SOEs in classes 9th and11th.
- Reservation criteria for admission in SoE will be as per the guidelines of the Department of Welfare of Scheduled castes, Backward Class, and Minorities Govt. of Punjab as per the Punjab Scheduled
- Castes and Backward Castes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006 (Punjab Act No. 22 of 2006).
- The minimum qualifying marks for the admission test are 35% in subjects and 35% in reasoning and 40% in total.
- Students from the reserved categories will be eligible for a relaxation of 5% marks in the sectional and aggregate cutoff.
- Students who did not pass their respective exams of classes 8th and 10th or got reappear/compartment in any subject will not be eligible for admission in the SoEs.