Govt. School Principal Gives Wing to Meritorious Students

Rakesh Sharma, principal of Shaheed Gurdas Ram Memorial Government Senior Secondary School (Girls), Zira, Ferozepur district, announced a jahaaz da jhoota (air travel) for those students from Class 8th, 10th, and 12th who secure a rank on the merit list. 14 students from his school secured ranks on merit list. They flew to Delhi from Amritsar, spending three days with their teachers’ visiting places of cultural and educational importance. Spending over $3,355 from his pocket, Sharma sponsored the tour, keeping his promise to encourage his students to study harder. For the students, who mostly come from financially weak backgrounds – their fathers work as mechanics, milk-sellers, run grocery stores and other blue collar jobs – sitting in an aircraft was an exciting experience and a hard-earned opportunity. Earlier in December 2022, four girls from his school made it to the merit. Two of them flew to Goa to attend a science exposition, while two others went to Delhi. ‘More students have promised me that I should keep their air tickets ready in the coming months. It was just a way to motivate them for better results,’ said Sharma. Ferozepur Deputy District Education Officer Pargat Singh Brar said, ‘Sharma’s devotion towards his students can be gauged from the fact that he refused a promotion as the District Education Officer (DEO), saying he does not want to be an officer but to serve students in his school as a principal.’