After 30 yrs, Punjab govt schools outdo pvt ones

CHANDIGARH:For the first time in the last 30 years government schools in Punjab have outdone their counterparts in the private sector as regards Class X results of the Punjab School Education Board PSEB

Updated At : 12:42 PM May 11, 2019 IST

Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News service
Chandigarh, May 10

For the first time in the last 30 years, government schools in Punjab have outdone their counterparts in the private sector as regards Class X results of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).

The pass percentage for 3,582 government schools stood at 88.21 as against 86 for private schools — an upswing of over 30 per cent in comparison with last year’s (2017-2018) figure of 58 per cent.

The marked improvement comes despite teachers being on the path of agitation for regularisation of services, promotions and pay scales since October last year.

There has also been a marked improvement in results in border districts. Pathankot, with a pass percentage of 52 last year, has topped the state with over 91.

Gurdaspur recorded a pass percentage of 89 against 60 last year; Amritsar 89 against 55 last year; Tarn Taran 74 against 33 last year; and Ferozepur 80 against 52 last year.

More than 3,000 teachers were recruited exclusively for border districts last year with a clear message that no transfers would be allowed.

Certain schools that had a pass percentage of only 2 last year crossed 90 this year. These include Government Senior Secondary School, Kutala (Amritsar); GSSS, Munde (Gurdaspur); and GMSSS, Taragarh (Pathankot).

Secretary (School Education) Krishan Kumar said, “The result is a reflection on hard work by teachers with active support of State Council of Educational Research and Training.” Education Minister OP Soni said, “Our efforts are bearing fruit under the watchful eyes of our CM.”

Sanjha Morcha convener Devinder Punia said, “It is appreciable and a key reason has been lenient marking.”