Harjot Bains orders DEOs to spend two hours in field to improve schools’ efficacy

Chandigarh, March 10, 2025: To further improve efficacy of the state government schools to ensure the world-class standard education, Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, on Monday, ordered all the District Education Officers (DEOs- Elementary & Secondary) to spend first two hours— 9am to 11am— in the field everyday, besides, asking them to prepare data-driven district-specific action plans with measurable outcomes. He said that outcome of all the DEOs will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

These directions were issued during a full-day marathon review meeting with the DEOs held at MGSIPA here. The Education Minister also asked them to ensure on-ground implementation of programs regarding the Schools of Eminence (SOEs), enrolment drive and student coaching launched by the state government.

To assess the progress in fulfilling promises and achieving targets in the education sector, which has been accorded top priority status by the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government, S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that education is the cornerstone of Punjab's future and that the government is committed to transforming the state's education system.
The Education Minister directed all the DEOs to expedite the development of Schools of Eminence (SOEs) with immediate focus on infrastructure completion, increasing enrolment figures and filling vacant staff positions and strengthening student coaching programs for competitive examinations like JEE, with regular assessment of performance outcomes and necessary interventions.

While asking to accelerate implementation of Mission Samrath with clear targets for improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy at the district level, especially for students in Grades 3-8, S. Harjot Singh Bains also directed officials to ensure provision of minimum infrastructure standards in all the schools with priority given to functional and separate toilets for girl and boy students, safe drinking water facilities, dual desks and boundary walls.

The Education Minister categorically asked officials to launch an intensive enrolment drive to increase admissions at Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary levels with targeted outreach programs. He said that all the pending infrastructure works under NABARD and Samagra Shiksha will be completed within stipulated timelines and resolve all bottlenecks immediately.

Harjot Singh Bains reiterated that education remains the government's top priority and that all necessary resources will be mobilized to achieve the targets set for the sector.

Secretary School Education Anindita Mitra, Director General School Education Vinay Bublani, Special Secretary Rajesh Dhiman and other senior officials of the department were also present during the meeting.