
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann hails 44 govt school students who cleared JEE (Advanced)
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday felicitated 44 govt school students who successfully cleared the prestigious JEE (Advanced) exam. He asserted that the 'Sikhiya Kranti' initiative, launched by his govt to revitalise the education sector, was enabling the state to produce such achievers.
Mann said the primary aim of Sikhiya Kranti was to make Punjab a frontrunner in education. "These students are now scripting new success stories every day and bringing laurels to the state," he said.
He said that due to the state govt's efforts, Punjab was on its way to becoming a technological hub. Mann added the day wasn't far when high-end technology companies would queue up to recruit Punjab's youth, a transformation that will position the state as a centre for innovation, technological advancement, and economic growth.
Mann said new medical colleges and hospitals were being set up to provide quality education. In addition, he said, eight UPSC coaching centres are being set up across Punjab to train students for competitive examinations.
In related news, Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains said state govt has set a target to double the number of govt school students securing IIT admissions in the coming academic session.
The move comes after 44 govt school students successfully cleared JEE (Advanced), he added.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Bains credited the success to the govt's efforts to empower students to crack competitive exams like JEE and NEET through the Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) programme, which was launched in Nov 2023. PACE provides free coaching, including live online classes, doubt-clearing sessions, mock tests, and residential camp coaching. This initiative has bridged the financial gap by enabling govt school students from humble backgrounds to compete with private school peers.
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