Students to be trained in life skills: Minister
Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister Dr Balbir Singh today said students will receive training in life skills, first-aid and protection from waterborne (vector-borne) diseases, under an initiative starting from Patiala.
The Health Minister made the announcement while interacting with students and parents during the Parent-Teacher Meet at Government Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines. Dr Balbir Singh said the purpose of providing first-aid and life skills training to the students was to empower them to providing essential assistance during emergency situations, helping save lives before medical help arrives.
Initially, the training will be given to Class XII students who will also be awarded certificates. The students will also be educated about waterborne diseases to help prevent the spread of illnesses like dengue, malaria and chikungunya. The minister noted that an increased awareness had led to a reduction in cases of waterborne diseases and students will serve as brand ambassadors for this awareness campaign.
During his interaction with parents at Government Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, and Government Senior Secondary School, Model Town, Dr Balbir Singh said under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government was focusing on educational reforms. He mentioned that while teachers were receiving international-level training, students were being linked with vocational courses through ‘Schools of Eminence,’ allowing them to choose their career paths based on their interests.
This is the third consecutive Parent-Teacher Meet in government schools and the improvement in education standards over the last two and a half years is evident from the increased enrollment in these schools.
Dr Balbir Singh said the Punjab government had regularised 12,000 teachers and recruited over 10,000 new teachers during this period.
He also visited an exhibition showcasing solar chargers, water treatment plant models and products made from waste materials. The minister urged farmers to adopt in-situ and ex-situ techniques for stubble management, stating that the efforts made by students will be meaningful only if everyone contributed to preserving environment.
District Education Officer (Secondary) Sanjeev Sharma, District Education Officer (Primary) Shalu Mehra, Deputy DEO Manvinder Kaur Bhullar, Principal Seema Upal of Government Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines; Principal Naresh of Government Senior Secondary School, Model Town; school staff, students and parents were present at the event.
