Bains lays stone of SoE upgrade work

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Friday laid the foundation stone of the upgrade work of Shaheed E Azam Sukhdev Thapar School of Eminence, Bharat Nagar, at a cost of around Rs 17 crore.

Accompanied by MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, Markfed Chairman Amandeep Singh Mohie and Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal, Bains said new works will include a state-of-the-art indoor sports facility, a multipurpose hall, new science laboratories, additional classrooms, roof tiling, new doors and windows, new electrical wiring, sewage system, covered parking area for students, a shelter for mid-day meals. It would include the demolition of the old hall for the construction of seven new classrooms on the ground floor with bathrooms, basketball court, a new main entrance, a waiting area for parents, and other work.

The project would be completed in 11 months, transforming the school into a top academic institution. The indoor sports complex will be named in honour of Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh, he mentioned.

Bains emphasised that Schools of Eminence (SoE) are being established across Punjab, ensuring that students in government schools have access to facilities comparable to be found in convent schools. He highlighted that Shaheed-E-Azam Sukhdev Thapar School of Eminence, located at Bharat Nagar Chowk in Ludhiana, is one of the most esteemed institutions, currently educating around 2,000 students.

He said this would be the second school of Eminence of Ludhiana city that would have all ultra modern facilities.

The Minister also revealed that five new Schools of Eminence (SOEs) will be inaugurated for the people in the coming months by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Significant efforts are already underway to ensure high-quality infrastructure in government schools, including boundary walls, furniture, sports facilities, and more. He also discussed the business blaster initiative aimed at cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit among students, motivating them to transition from job seekers to job creators. By involving students in practical business ventures, the programme promotes essential skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

The minister paid floral tributes to Shaheed-E-Azam Sukhdev Thapar at his statue installed on the school premises.