Panjab Changes School Admission Rules, Cracks Down on Protest

In Panjab, the Education Department’s directive limiting admissions of certain students in Classes VI, IX, and XI at 118 Schools of Eminence (SOE) has caused controversy, with the Democratic Teacher Front (DTF) calling it discriminatory. The SOE model features two student categories: those passing an entrance test, enjoying special programs and facilities, and non-entrance students who do not receive those benefits. On 24 Mar, the Director of School Education (Secondary) Paramjit Singh asked District Education Officers to reduce the latter group’s intake. Panjab Education Minister Harjot Bains said SOEs cater to entrance-qualifiers. Bains has also come under fire for a directive asking teachers to set their WhatsApp display pictures to the Chief Minister’s image, forming part of the Punjab Sikhya Kranti campaign to showcase educational reforms. DTF accused the government of using teachers for political publicity. This is a reminder of when Shiromani Akal Dal was in power and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pictures were on cycles gifted to girl school students and even hearse vans. In a separate event, on 4 Apr, police dismantled a 63-day protest by parents at Adarsh (ideal) School in Chowke, Bathinda by forcibly removing and arresting protesters. The parents were protesting corruption by sellers of school uniforms and text books. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Ekta Ugrahan), Bathinda district president Shingara Singh Mann said women were verbally abused and physically assaulted. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Harinder Bindu was assaulted, elderly women were taken into custody. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) state president Joginder Singh Ugrahan condemned the action, announcing a one-day protest. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has successfully curbed dropout rates in its 40 higher education institutions from 30% to 5% over the past few years. An increased annual budget of USD 34.3M now supports a growing student population of over 33,000 in colleges and 24,655 in schools (earlier coverage).