6 special schools for EWS, meritorious students in Punjab

Six special schools are being setup for the economically weaker section and meritorious students of the state by coming session this year.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed the education department to complete the civil works of the six special schools being setup for the economically weaker and meritorious students of the state by July 2014, an official spokesman said here.
A direction to this effect was given by the Chief Minister while presiding over the maiden meeting of the Society constituted for encouraging the poor meritorious students across the state, he said.
Badal said these schools must be made functional from the coming session to impart quality education with hostel facility free of cost to all the poor meritorious students of the state.

The Chief Minister also approved to constitute a search committee headed by the Chief Secretary for the selection of a project director, besides six principals for the schools.
He said the process of nominating five experts for guiding the schools through their vital inputs, would also be completed soon.

Punjab Education Development Board would work out sources funding to the tune of Rs 17.36 crore annually to make payment of salaries to the staff, besides incurring expenditure on the hostel facility in the schools.
A separate recruitment board had been constituted for the selection of staff.
Stressing on the need for timely completion of the entire project, Badal directed the Deputy Commissioners present in the meeting to keep close vigil over the construction work to avoid any undue delay.

These schools were being established to impart free quality education and hostel facilities for all economically weaker and bright students of the government schools, who had scored 80 per cent or above marks in class X examinations.